So, today I lost a client.
Clients come and go. Some stay with you for a long time, others leave for a variety of reasons. Cheaper rates, better quality, better service.
It’s all a part of the cycle…
However, when a client leaves you naturally ask yourself why. Why did they leave? What did you do wrong?
How can you improve what you’re doing and stop the others from bolting too. That would not be good.
The last thing you want is to have to go back to work for that boss mentioned in the previous post.
Plus, I doubt any of my bill collectors would be sympathetic. On a side note, I’m on a first name basis with most of my bill collectors now. They call me often enough.
Anyway, I’m not whining. Like I said, clients come and clients go. But the reason I lost this client is what is pissing me off.
I lost this client because I was lacking. Not skill, not talent, not enthusiasm.
I lost this client because I didn’t have a nice pair of creamy breasts for him to rub his stubble-filled face in.
That’s right, I lost this client to a female competitor. She is giving him a little piece on the side. MotherF*&@er!
At first I didn’t know why he left but I found out later. Nothing stays hidden forever – read here if you don’t believe me.
It’s ok, I’m not worried – I can deal with this – I’ve setup accounts at the major banks in Georgetown to accept donations.
I’m not going for the full transplant. I just need enough money for estrogen treatments. I just want to fill out my chests.. you know, a nice decent cup size. Yep! A decent cup size and my kids’ future will be secured.
Wish me luck!
Your client is a flippin ass..
It is men like that I don’t like period! They rather hire some chick so she can buy bigger shades rather than a man that needs to feed a family… a man that could perform better in the work place.
I need to start stressing it more that going this way.. we really will never have another I.Newton or Shakespeare.
That chick is a bitch herself.
Anyway.. I find even the most thirsty of us men are usually left without a choice but to forget those creamy breast women when it comes to business when you present yourself more manly, focus and descipline than is customary.
Any client would wake the f**k up and realise.. shite, this man voice too deep for this gay train of thought.
While it is not impossible to lose a client for the reasons outlined, it is generally not a fair assessment of the situation. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard that you can’t get a job at Company-X or Agency-Y because you are of a certain race, or that person X got promoted because the ‘glass ceiling’ or because he/she is sleeping with the boss, or a plethora of lame excuses. Even if she did get the client because she offered sexual favours along with the proposal, if your client perceived your service as par none he would not leave for such a frivolous reason. If something like the possibility of sex is enough for him to make such a move, then that would mean that in his perception what her company is offering is just as good as (or almost as good as) what yours has to offer.
“You can lose lots of money chasing women, but you will never lose women by chasing money.” – quote from the movie ‘I Think I Love My Wife.’
In the end, your client’s firm’s bottom line means more to him than some woman’s firm bottom line. I think you may need to step your game up.
just throwing out a thought…..if you probably spend more time looking after you clients need instead of blogging your client might still be with you. You have to know your client well enough to understand his/her needs and satisfy them.
If you know the man like p***y, carry the f*****r to Olympia, get him laid then write it in your expenditure for him. You can even get yourself laid on his expense.
First, I’ll say that your (ex-)client is ethically promiscuous (no pun intended). Even without the extra favours, and even if the girl’s work was better (and it could only be so marginally, having seen your work), he should have stuck with you.
It’s simple loyalty. Unless you’ve given him a continuous reason to be unsatisfied, such as chronic tardiness, complaining, etc, the client should remain with you. Have you?
Keeping all those possibilities in mind, I agree with Silver Dragon in that your client perceives her service as being the same or almost as good as your own. Note the use of the word ‘perceives’. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the show ‘The Apprentice’, it’s that in business, truth many times takes a back seat to spin. If you can talk the talk, you may only have to walk a little of the walk. Could it be possible that she’s just a better marketer, rather than a better designer?
On the other hand, the client could just be an idiot. I mean, I’m not of the sexual favours mindset, so I find it difficult to fathom how a thinking businessman could hire a significantly lesser person in return for mere pleasure, but then, it takes all kinds to make the world go round. Plus, haven’t we seen many times on this very blog, instances of business decisions that didn’t make sense.
Chalk it up to experience and move on dude.
Without revealing my sources and discussing the other clandestine activities I was involved in to recieve this inside info – I can assure you that she was not chosen for her work. She was indeed chosen because of the sexual favours.
bannas you are not listening. I’m saying you must learn to READ your clients. Have social interactions with them. They will get to know you on a personal level and appreciate what you do for them. Be firm as an advisor and do the job to the best of your abilities but clients also need to feel they are dealing with humans not some stuck up robot in a suit. You have to get down to their level or step up…whichever one.
Providing the type of job you do allows for that.
Ohh.. so that’s my problem.
I’m not having enough social interactions with my clients. I’m not getting down in the mud or up in the sky with them. Thanks. This really helps.
If they are down in the gutter you should get down in there with them. Forget your standards, forget your morals. Maybe even walk with extra ammonia and help them hide the body…
all about the benjamins YE all about the benjamins. When you get established and your “money meet” so to speak, you choose your clients based on standards. I’m not saying help them kill anybody, just look the other way when they doing it and notice the nice little bird up in the tree. You have to eat, you do what you must, its all about survival in this Unforgiving World.
Don’t look at this as me shitting on you. I respect the fact that you have good morals, however, at the end of the day you can’t take morals to the bank and get some cash.
A man doesn’t give a damn about loyalty these days, it doen’t matter how hard you’ve worked for him. If he sees a better deal he’ll go there, if he sees he can get some on the side (with his new rep is in your case) he’ll go there.
You’re in a competitive environment. Weigh your options carefully. How hard do you want to survive and make a name for yourself. Strategize, push the boundaries….I may be able to offer some advice if you need assistance.
Hmmm.. interesting, you are arguing my point.
“A man doesn’t give a damn about loyalty these days, it doen’t matter how hard you’ve worked for him.”
Indeed you are correct. That is why I will, I must, maintain whatever morals and standards I have. Because once he sees another option he will leave. It could be cheaper or better service or as in this case Big Titties in his face.
You are also correct,I cannot trade my morals for groceries, but I want to be able to like what I see in the mirror.
I want my kids and my wife to be proud that I was able to maintain my honour.
I will pass on your offer for assistance. I don’t believe we will see eye to eye or breast to breast, whatever the case might be.
the saying all roads lead to rome can apply here. the problem is universal, there are many ways to deal with it. i wish you well……………..
I agree with YE. “What profiteth a man to gain the world and lose his soul?”. It seems that this is what you would have YE do, oh aptly named commenter.
There were many times in my career where people told me to do something against my morals, saying “that’s de way yu gat to do business”. I told them “Then perhaps I’m not a good businessman”. Years later, I’m still here. This attitude makes life tougher, but I would find it much tougher to face my family and myself if I did otherwise.
lets just say i’m an advocate
hey you are funny Young Entrepreneur, i like your style and perspectives, much like me…LOL
I lost a client too. It wasn’t because of woman though. I think it was because my client is full of himself. Anyways I told thanks for the time he was my client.