In advertising, my chosen career, there is an unwritten rule for working with clients that makes everyone’s lives just a little better. It’s the Three F Rule. But when I explained it to people outside of my industry, they immediately saw ways that it could apply to their own lives. And so, I’m sharing it with you.

Now anyone who works as a creative services provider, and that covers a wide variety of careers, will easily be able to understand the Three F Rule. It’s a simple formula that keeps you sane and makes sure your working life doesn’t go off the rails. As you can imagine, three “F” words are at the heart of this philosophy; and not one of them is R-rated by the way.

The three words represent the three key traits of working for a client. If you consistently have two of these, and it can be any two, then you’re doing well. If you have all three, you’re more lucky than you know. If you only have one, you need to seriously reconsider your working relationship with that client. Something has to change to make this workable for you. And if you don’t have one single trait, you must run as far away from that client as you can…and quickly.

Here’s the list. I hope you can see where this can apply in your own life. Maybe it will inspire you to rethink your situation and move on to greener pastures. Or it may just help you realize that you’ve got a pretty good thing going on after all.

FUN

It’s simple enough – is the work you’re doing for that client fun? Does it make you happy and fulfilled? Do you look forward to getting out of bed to go and resume the project, or does it keep you awake at night filled with dread? Fun is an important part of the creative process, but it applies to so many professions. Some people look forward to working on the production line, others hate it. Some hate cutting hair, others can’t wait to jump out of bed to get to work. Whatever your profession, you need to be having some fun doing it. Like my dad, and many others have said, if you do a job you like you’ll never work a day in your life.

FAME

This is not Hollywood fame. This is more a case of getting noticed in your field, and that subject is wide-open. In my profession, fame comes from doing work that wins awards and/or gets a coveted spot in your portfolio. And I can tell you from experience that very few clients give you the chance of doing work that brings fame. But when that client does come along, you grab the opportunity with both hands. After all, this is work that could lead to bigger and better things. Now, how this applies to your own life obviously depends on what it is you do. If you’re an accountant, you may get the chance to work with a business that has significant connections; this could lead to a lot more work with a better class of clientele. If you bake cakes, you may do a commission for almost no money if the exposure is right for your masterpiece. Assess the situation, see if the fame the job will bring is worth all the extra time you’ll be putting in. Most people will forgo money for the chance at working with a client that will bring fame and additional work.

FORTUNE

It should probably say “money” but that would ruin the theme. Fortune is too strong a word, we’re simply talking about income here. At the very least, you need to earn money for what you’re doing. But the three F rule is a balancing act. Now, if the job you’re working on is fun, and will bring at least a moderate amount of fame, then fortune will probably take a backseat. But if the job is about as fun as a funeral, and the work will never get noticed, then you MUST have fortune. You need to compensate for the lack of the other two significantly to make up for the amount of misery the rest of the job brings. At the end of the day, when you’re up at 2am working on a job that will bring you nothing but headaches and heartaches, you can at least comfort yourself with the big payday that’s coming (think of the guys who go crab fishing). If you have fortune and fun, fame is a bonus. If you have fame and fortune, you may have to let fun go bye-bye to keep the job.

In short, when it comes to the Three F Rule you need to go with the formula that works for you, but in general, two of the three traits will usually keep you happy.

So there it is - The Three F Rule. In my industry, having just one (or none) of these qualities eventually leads to the fourth F – you FIRE the client. In your life, that may not be applicable. But hopefully this guide can help you have a more fulfilling working career and live a happier life.

Carpe diem.