Comments on: Four clients I avoid, and two I love http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/ Small Biz. Big Buzz. by Monica O'Brien Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:41:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: mrggfep http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1678 mrggfep Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:41:01 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1678 My outlook is a bit different... I have the luxury of declining clients whom I do not wish to work with. And I do not value money more than my happiness, so I have no problem walking away... I almost had to yesterday as a matter of fact. If I am put in a position to work in a hostile enviornment I expect to be compensated for the extra stress. My outlook is a bit different… I have the luxury of declining clients whom I do not wish to work with. And I do not value money more than my happiness, so I have no problem walking away… I almost had to yesterday as a matter of fact. If I am put in a position to work in a hostile enviornment I expect to be compensated for the extra stress.

]]> By: monicaobrien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1677 monicaobrien Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:28:39 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1677 So interesting. I'll have to think about that one for a little while. So interesting. I'll have to think about that one for a little while.

]]> By: mrggfep http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1576 mrggfep Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:41:01 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1576 My outlook is a bit different... I have the luxury of declining clients whom I do not wish to work with. And I do not value money more than my happiness, so I have no problem walking away... I almost had to yesterday as a matter of fact. If I am put in a position to work in a hostile enviornment I expect to be compensated for the extra stress. My outlook is a bit different… I have the luxury of declining clients whom I do not wish to work with. And I do not value money more than my happiness, so I have no problem walking away… I almost had to yesterday as a matter of fact. If I am put in a position to work in a hostile enviornment I expect to be compensated for the extra stress.

]]> By: monicaobrien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1575 monicaobrien Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:28:39 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1575 So interesting. I'll have to think about that one for a little while. So interesting. I'll have to think about that one for a little while.

]]> By: mrggfep http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1541 mrggfep Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:16:25 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1541 I certainly do charge difficult clients more. There is a difference <br>in the client who is not convinced that they need help and the clients <br>who are nasty and disrespectful when you attempt to help. If you <br>politely express your concerns we are all good... But if you show your <br>bad side and ask for help later I am going to have to make you pay, <br>that is if the fee was not negotiated in advance. Every company has <br>rewards for good customers so I have an anti-reward for bad <br>customers....and yeah I know I just made up a word. I certainly do charge difficult clients more. There is a difference
in the client who is not convinced that they need help and the clients
who are nasty and disrespectful when you attempt to help. If you
politely express your concerns we are all good… But if you show your
bad side and ask for help later I am going to have to make you pay,
that is if the fee was not negotiated in advance. Every company has
rewards for good customers so I have an anti-reward for bad
customers….and yeah I know I just made up a word.

]]> By: monicaobrien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1540 monicaobrien Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:40:23 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1540 I've gotten that a few times too. It is strange to me. Because I always research the company and figure out what they *are* doing, and then give them what they aren't and should be.<br><br>IMO, if you know you should be doing something and aren't doing it, it's not the consultant's fault they are reiterating or confirming that, yes indeed that would improve your business. As a consultant, I find that part of my job is teaching people how to do the things they should be doing faster, or telling them who they should hire, or helping them get fit what they should be doing into a workflow. It's a challenge, but one I love.<br><br>Thanks for the comment! I am curious whether you are joking about the "attitude adjustment fees" or if you really do write (and charge) for that ;) I've gotten that a few times too. It is strange to me. Because I always research the company and figure out what they *are* doing, and then give them what they aren't and should be.

IMO, if you know you should be doing something and aren't doing it, it's not the consultant's fault they are reiterating or confirming that, yes indeed that would improve your business. As a consultant, I find that part of my job is teaching people how to do the things they should be doing faster, or telling them who they should hire, or helping them get fit what they should be doing into a workflow. It's a challenge, but one I love.

Thanks for the comment! I am curious whether you are joking about the “attitude adjustment fees” or if you really do write (and charge) for that ;)

]]> By: monicaobrien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1539 monicaobrien Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:36:51 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1539 That's true. Just in my own experience, I've found that because it's a recession, people with full-time positions open feel they have a significant advantage over job seekers. So for now, they just really don't want to hire anyone that they can't control. I often get the impression from companies that I should be happy that they are offering me anything, when my own approach as a consultant is "let's find the right fit, and form a partnership."<br><br>I think it's so weird (and unfortunate) how companies have shifted their mindset due to the recession. That's true. Just in my own experience, I've found that because it's a recession, people with full-time positions open feel they have a significant advantage over job seekers. So for now, they just really don't want to hire anyone that they can't control. I often get the impression from companies that I should be happy that they are offering me anything, when my own approach as a consultant is “let's find the right fit, and form a partnership.”

I think it's so weird (and unfortunate) how companies have shifted their mindset due to the recession.

]]> By: mrggfep http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1529 mrggfep Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:35:46 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1529 I love the hostile " You are not telling me anything I don't already know" client or the client who denies that you have identified any material issues.... Why do I like these guys??? because when they contact me months later for help... my fees include "attitude adjustment fees" LoL I love the hostile ” You are not telling me anything I don't already know” client or the client who denies that you have identified any material issues…. Why do I like these guys??? because when they contact me months later for help… my fees include “attitude adjustment fees” LoL

]]> By: Generation-Y startup » 7 Blogs I always read and why I read them. http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1515 Generation-Y startup » 7 Blogs I always read and why I read them. Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:39:58 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1515 [...] Everytime I read Twenty Set, I leave that lunch table with something new. There was a time I read a particular post of hers and it inspired me to write one on here. It turned out to be one of the most read posts I [...] [...] Everytime I read Twenty Set, I leave that lunch table with something new. There was a time I read a particular post of hers and it inspired me to write one on here. It turned out to be one of the most read posts I [...]

]]> By: monicaobrien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/4-clients-i-avoid-and-2-i-love/comment-page-1/#comment-1499 monicaobrien Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:51:10 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=347#comment-1499 Great advice. Thanks so much! I will definitely be taking it. Great advice. Thanks so much! I will definitely be taking it.

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