Too often, business owners are bullied into doing something that is either against their personal principles or what they want for their business. They do this because they believe that in order to get a client they need to submit to the demands, but that is not the case at all.
One thing that business owners need to take into consideration is that while the client may be providing your business with an income in the short term, in the long term this particular client will be more trouble than they are worth. You will be babysitting more than doing what you love. You will be bending over backwards just to keep him happy and is that really how you want to run your business.
Customer service is a big issue and from the time we get our first job until the time that we decide to think for ourselves, it is pounded into us that the customer is always right. For some things that is true but not always. As a business owner we need to stand up and stick to our guns about how we want our businesses ran. Running a business does not mean that we need to put our principles and our beliefs to the side just to make a client happy.
We will all meet this dilemma at one time or another. A client who is overbearing, tries to micromanage everything you do and somebody who will find fault with everything you do. It is at this time that it is best to just cut the ties. In the long run, your clients will appreciate the fact that you have principles and you will not set them aside just to make somebody happy. You may lose that bully of a client but you will see that you will be much happier running your business as you wish and your clients will appreciate you more for not selling out just to make a buck. Not to mention the fact that business owners who love their business and love their clients are more successful than those who feel anxious or like the clients are running them.
Tracy Collins, Confidential Virtual Assistant, owns/operates Collins-Admin Services, http://www.collins-admin.com a virtual assistance company based out of Pennsylvania. Offering confidential virtual administrative support services to entrepreneurs/small business owners who feel they need higher than average confidential assistance.
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