As a business, when a customer is the one sending you their invoice – it’s a pretty good sign that the relationship will be nothing but trouble. It is just another example of larger and more powerful businesses that may want to use your services but not without making it very clear who the boss is. As the little guy, alot of times you have to suck it up and repeat the famous line over and over – “The customer is always right, the customer is always right.” Or do you?
It’s funny how many business professionals I have talked to that might subscribe to this theory. “The customer is almost always right.” And as a business professional that prides myself on a good work ethic and a give and take style with my clients – I really think I will go with the second theory. And that is because bad customers can ruin your business! They can suck the life out of you in a way that no revenue or referral can ever replace. And believe me they exist and just like germs invading your personal space – they need to be extinguished from your business life.
As a new business trying to establish its place in the business community almost every business you will be dealing with is larger and more successful than you. They may have won awards and have egos bigger than the office space they utilize. It is only human nature and honestly a driving force in what makes so many successful. Nothing wrong with that. What you need to realize is that some of these businesses will treat the new guy like a legitimate business connection and others will try and take advantage of you – every way they can. Usually they will try and do just about everything to compensate you, in just about every way conceivable, other than pay you money. They change the context of your agreement in mid stream to get more out of you and most importantly love to pay you with “what ifs”. “Well I have referred you to so many people, knock down my price” sounds so good when you are starting out but “what if” this new connection decides to change their mind. What is that worth?
I just recently said good bye to a business just like this. Sure I will more than likely lose some business, but I have my integrity in place and I don’t have to spend time looking for places that will take my overflowing bag of “what ifs” – and it feels real good!
