Most of us are hard-wired to try to please. AND most of us in business are hard-wired to take every new client who comes our way - then to try to please that client in every way.
That's a good thing - sometimes.
Those traits can lead to success in business – but they can also lead to frustration and even failure if we say yes when we should say no.
After all, each of us has only 24 hours in a day, and only 365 days in a year. And as my husband is fond of telling me "You can't do it all."
So the first reason for being a bit choosey about the clients we accept is that we have only so much time. If we're tied up with a less than desirable client, we can't use that same time to care for another client – or to reach out in search of new and better clients.
And as you know, it's those "nasty" clients who demand more and more and more of your time and energy.
So – they cause you to lose income simply by gobbling up too much of your time.
The second reason is the mental and emotional drain we experience when we work with the wrong people.
Any time you dread calling someone or hope it isn't them when your phone rings, you know they're the wrong clients. (That is, assuming that you've been doing your job and the dread isn't coming from having to admit that you didn't do what should have been done.)
Whenever you spend time with those people, either in person, on the phone, or even in email exchanges, you feel wrung out – drained – and cranky. That's no way to live your working life, and it's certainly not what you need to be taking home to your family each night. Even if your family only consists of a dog, a cat, or a goldfish, they deserve better!
So be good to yourself. If you can tell from the first meeting that someone isn't going to be a good match for you, let them go. That could be a seller who insists on listing far over market value. It could be a buyer whose wants and demands are unrealistic.
And it could just be someone whose personality, politics, religious beliefs, or prejudices make it torture for you to smile and be pleasant. Whatever it is – there are simply some people you should avoid doing business with. Even if you make a big sale (which is doubtful, given the negative energy) you'll pay too high a price for that income.
Sometimes you can't tell right away. Some people are sweet at first and then turn into fire-breathing dragons, yelling and criticizing at every turn. Unless you're already in the middle of a transaction that's going to close, drop them too.
You have a career that's challenging and demanding. It's also a career that can and should be rewarding both financially and emotionally. It will be if you choose your clients carefully.
Thumbs down Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Yes or No Die Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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