[AccessD] The Polyp Problem

Very well said Arthur. 

"NEVER got any paint on himself." Now try that with a roller or spay gun...
you are exaggerating slightly on that one.

So the next time you are in Victoria could you come over and help with some
perpetual house painting that seem to always going on at our abode. 

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Arthur Fuller
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 9:09 AM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
Subject: Re: [AccessD] The Polyp Problem

The hardest thing to learn in the contracting business is how and when 
to fire a customer. Eventually we all learn how to fire an unproductive 
employee or subcontractor, and no matter how distasteful we find it, we 
plod on anyway. Learning to fire a customer is much more difficult, 
because we are tied up in the notion that customers = revenue.

Let me offer a lesson taught to me by a master painter (i.e. house 
painter with papers) that I once worked with. He said, "Let the stupid 
painters do the one-bedroom apartments." To expand upon his concise 
statement, "If you're busy painting the one-bedroom apartments, you'll 
never be available for the mansion-makeovers; and worse, your resume 
will make it look like you're unqualified for the mansion-makeovers."

He was so skilled that he didn't even bother to put painting clothes on. 
He NEVER spilt paint. He NEVER got any paint on himself. He could cut a 
window frame without tape. Thanks to him, I can do it too (but I never 
mention this to my friends, otherwise I'd be dragged into painting their 
houses on my weekends LOL).

Out of the story and back to the theme: as contractors, we MUST learn 
which customers create profitable experiences and which create headaches 
-- and then to act upon that information and fire the latter group. Let 
the stupid contractors have all the nightmares!

Arthur

Andy Lacey wrote:

>In any case they sound like all-too familiar sort of customer. At some
point you have to decide on what YOU want to do next. Are they a customer
worth having for the future? I doubt it but if yes, you'll probably have to
grit your teeth and keep asking nicely for your money. If not then you are
going to have to stop them doing what they're doing, i.e. taking advantage.
At some point you just have to say that you are doing no more work and no
more support until you have been paid. And having said it you have to stick
to it. The first time they really need you, and you won't go, they will
suddenly find it perfectly easy to raise a cheque. It's not hard. The only
time it's actually hard is if they have no money - and if that's the case
bail out. 
>
-- 
AccessD mailing list
AccessD at databaseadvisors.com
http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd
Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com