How To Be A Good Client? Be A Good/Dog Person
Fitzpatrick-It’s January, and out here in Central California, oranges hang heavy in the orchards and remodeling projects hang heavy in homeowners’ minds. Now is the time when articles titled, “How to Hire A Contractor and Not Be Taken for a Bumpy Ride Down the Shyster Highway” and “How to Choose a Designer Without Being Wallpapered,” appear in the media.
Funny—they have it backward. The economy has slowed, but you still can’t ring a legitimate contractor or designer today and expect her to show up at your house tomorrow, next week, or the week after—unless she has a cancellation. You don’t have to wait six months—unlike the last four years—but the good people are still busy. It’s still a professionals’ market.
Know what this means? The good building and design professionals still get to choose their clients.
How do I get them to choose ME?
Be a Good Client.
What’s a Good Client?
Someone I want to work with.
Who d’ya want to work with?
Someone I don’t mind spending three months to two years of my life with.
Who’s that?
Most people, if given a choice (as we do in a professionals' market), will pick people to work with who are somewhat like themselves. Peg and I have sliced it, diced it, run algorithms, and what we’ve discovered is that that Good Clients for us seem to be dog owners.
Why?
They’re good communicators: speaking both human and dog.
They’re direct communicators: when the dog wants out, he tells you—and his people tend to behave in the same manner.
They’re conscientious: a person who wouldn’t leave Rex in a hot car will probably also show up for our meetings on time.
They’re used to mess being an inevitable and (more importantly) uneventful part of life: e.g. muddy paws, un-potted plants, accidents, shredded pillows.
They participate: the puppy will not house-train itself.
They’re used to life flowing at it’s own pace: the puppy will not be housed-trained immediately.
I’m not flattering myself that my next week’s appointments will all head for the SPCA this weekend. Remember, being you is the best way to be a Good Client, if not for me then for someone else, who will pick you because you remind them of themselves.
And Cat People, don’t despair, there are professionals out there for you too. They’re aloof, show up when they want to, and never let you forget who the most important person in the room is.
Funny—they have it backward. The economy has slowed, but you still can’t ring a legitimate contractor or designer today and expect her to show up at your house tomorrow, next week, or the week after—unless she has a cancellation. You don’t have to wait six months—unlike the last four years—but the good people are still busy. It’s still a professionals’ market.
Know what this means? The good building and design professionals still get to choose their clients.
How do I get them to choose ME?
Be a Good Client.
What’s a Good Client?
Someone I want to work with.
Who d’ya want to work with?
Someone I don’t mind spending three months to two years of my life with.
Who’s that?
Most people, if given a choice (as we do in a professionals' market), will pick people to work with who are somewhat like themselves. Peg and I have sliced it, diced it, run algorithms, and what we’ve discovered is that that Good Clients for us seem to be dog owners.
Why?
They’re good communicators: speaking both human and dog.
They’re direct communicators: when the dog wants out, he tells you—and his people tend to behave in the same manner.
They’re conscientious: a person who wouldn’t leave Rex in a hot car will probably also show up for our meetings on time.
They’re used to mess being an inevitable and (more importantly) uneventful part of life: e.g. muddy paws, un-potted plants, accidents, shredded pillows.
They participate: the puppy will not house-train itself.
They’re used to life flowing at it’s own pace: the puppy will not be housed-trained immediately.
I’m not flattering myself that my next week’s appointments will all head for the SPCA this weekend. Remember, being you is the best way to be a Good Client, if not for me then for someone else, who will pick you because you remind them of themselves.
And Cat People, don’t despair, there are professionals out there for you too. They’re aloof, show up when they want to, and never let you forget who the most important person in the room is.
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