How to say goodbye

It’s always difficult to say goodbye to longtime friends…or pro bono clients. Today, however, I did just that.

I edited pro bono for a local nonprofit organization for a total of seven years–five years before I started my editing business. Editing for this organization gave me valuable practice and a way to hone my skills. I believed, and still believe, strongly in its mission, and I loved the people there, and that was part of what kept me editing their website once a month without pay for seven years. The organization was deserving of my services.

Eventually, however, I began netting paid editing gigs, and over the last two and a half years since I started my business, I have amassed enough of them to watch them squeeze out the time I have to devote to the pro bono work. It became clear about a month ago that I would have to let the unpaid editing go. But how would I say goodbye to the organization? Would I leave it “high and dry” without an editor for its website?

Of course not.

I reached out to one of my editing organizations and found a gem who desired to do more pro bono work in order to gain more experience. She was interested in taking over for me, and so I gave her the URL of the organization’s website and explained what I had been doing and how I had been doing it.

Following this, I contacted the organization and told its administration about the potential new editor and why I needed to let their work go. They understood, okayed everything, and I introduced the organization to its new website editor over email.

Today, I did the pro bono work for the organization for the last time before handing the reins to the new editor. I am confident that she is highly capable and competent and will do a great job for the organization.

I want to emphasize that it was not easy to do any of this, nor was it comfortable for me. But, as they say, sometimes one has to leave one’s comfort zone in order for the best situation to take place.