There’s a design firm in town that I used to work with frequently. I did something to piss off their brand strategist, an intelligent go-getter of a woman, not unlike myself. Rather than telling me what I did wrong, they just stopped working with me. I heard through the grapevine three years later that I “gave up” on the project.

I know that I wasn’t fully present for the project. I had many big personal issues going down. It’s hard to separate personal from professional when big life questions want answers. I could have handled the situation better, and regret my lack of professionalism.

Now this situation is biting back. I want to do more work for this design firm. They’re great at what they do, producing big budget projects for national clients. My renewed focus on branding makes me a good fit for this company. How do I get back in their favor? Will they give me a second chance?

This issue raised two thoughts. One, freelance people often don’t get second chances. Piss off a creative director or brand strategist and it’s hard to get back in the door. Two, women are extra critical of other women. Ever watched a woman stare down another woman, especially if she’s wearing a pair of shoes she covets? Go to any public place, sit on a bench and watch how women watch each other.

I’ve yet to figure out how to handle this.