Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

Bad clients, blow thyselves

04.24.2013 by David Murray // 6 Comments

A friend is worried she blew it with a potential new client because the first job, which came to her in a wild last-minute panic, got messy and now the client is short with her on the phone.

I told her about the time I was dropping a buddy off at the airport in my International Harvester Scout "service truck." On the doors, it had signs that said "Murray's Freelance Writing," with my phone number. (See it in action, below.)

At a busy intersection near  Midway, a woman pulled up next to me and asked if I had a card. I was sorry, I didn't. But I said phone number was on the door.

"It is not my job to memorize your phone number!" she yelled, and roared off.

"There," I told my buddy somberly, "went one great client."

Categories // Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Joan H. says

    April 24, 2013 at 10:43 am

    I’d have hired you based on the Scout alone.

    Reply
  2. Joan H. says

    April 24, 2013 at 10:47 am

    A note on fixing cars: You know how the first rule of the IT help desk is “turn it off and turn it on” and see if it works again? I learned from my husband, the mechanic, that the first rule of fixing a vehicle seems to be “hit it with a hammer and see if it works now.” Good mechanicking, Davey!

    Reply
  3. David Murray says

    April 24, 2013 at 11:02 am

    And if you know just the right place to hit, you don’t need a hammer.

    Reply
  4. Shelley Griewahn says

    April 24, 2013 at 11:37 am

    Love the story. Love the video!

    Reply
  5. Undercover Agent #3891 says

    April 24, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    I just walked out on a bad client this week. Got up and left in the middle. I can’t use my real name because I don’t want them to know I am writing this. Sssshhhhh.

    Reply
  6. Undercover Agent #3891 says

    April 24, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    PS: I forgot to tell you how much I enjoyed your video. Liked that too.

    Reply

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