As a new business I am very keen to say 'yes' to any money making opportunity that comes my way but for the first time this week I had to say no to a potential client. And it felt great.
Having started my business recently I am finding that I get excited when a number comes up on my phone that I don't recognise - is this the call of a wealthy, desperate millionaire in need of my assistance?
So joy rushed to my head as I answered a call from an unfamiliar number, and yes finally a potential new customer was on the other end. Though she was desperate, she was certainly no millionaire.
I put on my official-phone-speaking-voice and did a great rave about the services I had to offer.
All is going well, and dreams of my client Christmas card list growing, were swimming in my head.
Until I mentioned my rate. I have worked hard over the years developing expert skills and experience to be able to offer my clients a superior service at the right price. My rate is very competitive, in fact significantly lower than similar providers. So I was rather taken aback to have to justify my rate to someone excepting to pay half the price. This wasn't going to be pretty.
Once I explained the benefits and experience I could offer, she begrudgingly agreed to pay my rate. However than informed me she could only afford my brilliance for 2 hours. I am happy to work within my clients budgets, but she was wanting me to commit to a timeline without seeing the scope of the job. Could anyone out there possibly copy write a sales email, set up a database, design an email template and distribute the email within two hours? If so, contact me so I can make money off you!
So at this point she wanted to pay me less than junior award wages for a typing assistant, and complete the task in record time.
The deal breaker was when she told me she would have the work to me by 2pm that day and would need it completed by 4pm. It was 12.30pm.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the challenge of tight turnarounds and understand situations arise were tasks need to be completed immediately. In fact, I look forward to those days when I can put on my lycra Superwomen outfit and save the day for my valued clients.
But this was never going to end pretty.
She was shocked when I explained to her that I had prior client commitments, and that I would not be able to complete the project until Friday morning (it was Wednesday). Nor was she willing to incur a small surcharge for such speedy service.
So the conversation ended quite quickly after that, and I didn't believe her when she ended the call with a "I'll get back to you".
I put the phone down with a big smile on my face. Ohh the joy of being able to say 'no' and be in control of my workload. No longer do I have someone telling me what to do each day, well except my 3 year old.
It is important to remember the values you create for your business. Don't compromise your reputation for a quick dollar and a lot of headaches.
I would never have made this client happy, not from lack of trying, but from unrealistic expectations and lack of respect for my business.
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