According to the web definition, a pushover is “someone who is easily taken advantage of.” In life, I am by no means a pushover. But looking back to my early freelance days, I recall a few incidents when I may have let clients get the best of me. There were individuals who arbitrarily changed the terms of my agreement to serve their advantage. I’ve also had a few clients pull a disappearing act, in which I wasn’t paid for services rendered. And then there were the clients who paid when “they felt good and ready.”

But I’ve grown over the years, and I think I know how to handle myself pretty well. I can usually sense a dishonest client a mile away, and I’m no longer afraid to part ways when a client and I don’t see eye-to-eye. But what about you?

Here are seven signs that you “might” be a pushover….

• You say nothing when a client reduces your pay, but increases the workload.
• You have plans to spend the weekend or day with your family, but you cancel your plans when a client contacts you with a last-minute project.
• You never complain when a client’s payments are habitually late.
• You let a client talk you into working while on vacation.
• You’re afraid to tell a client, “no.”
• You communicate with your client more than you do with family and friends.
• You let your clients speak to you with a rude or arrogant tone.

So, are you a pushover?