So your latest story just published, congrats! After weeks of reporting, writing, editing, working with your editor, hammering out the details, invoicing, promoting your story, and everything else that goes into an assignment, your work is now out in the world.

Woo! All that work you put in has finally paid off, and you got a (hopefully great) byline, a (hopefully great) paycheck, and/or published a story you were (hopefully) super passionate about. (Maybe even all three!) It’s time to savor the result of all your effort. You did it!

But once that exuberance (or relief?) wears off, it’s time to answer the more difficult question about that assignment: Was the outcome worth the input?

Getting commissioned and published is only the first half of the equation in building a profitable and sustainable freelance career — emphasis on sustainable. You’re building a business, after all, not just a string of gigs, so it’s important to recognize when parts of that business just aren’t working, even if they may be fun or interesting. Sometimes that tradeoff — whether the driving factor is time, finances, or emotions — just isn’t worth it. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself after every assignment.