When I evaluate a potential collaborator or vendor, I use several criteria to determine how much effort to invest or whether to collaborate at all. Honestly, I know I'm being a bit picky from a rational standpoint, but I truly believe in doing things earnestly and not chasing fame. (No wonder my followers stay stagnant)
The key details I care about are: punctuality, payment, and courtesy.
First, punctuality
Over the past few years, I've had many opportunities to collaborate with vendors. When meeting in person, I usually arrive early, though sometimes I'm late. But before arriving late, I always send a message letting them know I'm on my way and how long until I arrive. I think that's basic professionalism.
However, I've encountered many cases where vendors were late to meetings about potential collaboration, which cut into our discussion time, especially since I often have back-to-back schedules afterward. Of course, being late once or twice is fine, but being consistently late affects trust.
Second, payment
I used to feel that chasing vendors for payment made me seem petty, and I'd worry they'd think "I already said I'd pay you, why are you rushing?" But I really do care. If we agreed payment would come next month on a specific date, or in two months on a certain date, that's a date we already discussed. I keep a calendar recording when payments should arrive and from which accounts. Since I manage many vendors, I check my account almost daily, so I remember each vendor's payment date very clearly. Some vendors use electronic confirmation, so I receive confirmation messages early—which I think is very responsible.
But many times, when I check my payment account on the agreed day, the transfer still hasn't arrived. Usually I wait until the next day to inquire about the payment status. I'm fine with adjusting timelines if needed, but I just want to know the progress.
I'm genuinely worried this behavior might create a bad impression, that people will think I'm being too petty. But honestly, when I follow up on payments, my services are already completed. I usually submit work ahead of schedule, so why should I have to wait for you to pay late?
I think this is a concern many freelancers and contractors worry about. Honestly, it's not that we're short on money—we just have standards for details. And as I mentioned, if there's no improvement every time, it really affects trust. You might gradually notice that things I used to actively inquire about, I eventually stop pursuing. That's a sign of distrust.
Third, courtesy
I'm actually quite casual by nature. People who've interacted with me know I answer all questions and help however I can. But I really do care about small details—whether the other person is sincere and honest.
I've received several collaboration inquiry emails mentioning that they know someone I'm familiar with. Since I happen to get along well with that person, I decided to verify directly. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the two of them had never actually met and weren't close at all. It was quite shocking—it felt like someone had become a bargaining chip.
I think the better approach when sending inquiries is to first inform the person you want to mention that you're looking to collaborate with them, so when they're asked, they can confirm it actually happened. This makes things feel thoughtful. Another approach is to introduce yourself properly and explain why you want to collaborate with this person. That's what a healthy partnership looks like, rather than being attached to someone's name.
