Cutting the yard takes time away from my family - Prime Time Saturday or Sunday. Recently a neighbor around 17 or so left a flyer on my mail box advertising his lawncare services. Being 17 many moons ago myself I too had a little lawn business where I would cut for some spending cash.
His fee was a little high, but it was a long time since I charged for this service and decided to give him a shoot. What is the worse thing he could do other than kill my yard. And the last I knew it was nearly impossible to do that with a lawn mower.
For the past month, Derik our yard guy would stop by mow and pick up his check. The service was not the best but I still liked the idea of helping his entreperurial endeavors. I have a soft spot for youth and business ventures.
Then this past week we received a phone call from Derik asking to see if he could use my mower. His was broken. Or translation gas was getting too expensive and his dad took the mower away.
Seeing a quick way for him to earn some cash and for me to get another chore done; I said "sure you can use my mower in exchange for triming a small hedge along our entry way. In fact, I have to weed anyway so there is no need to pick up the trimings." With less than being grateful attitude, Derik responded by saying great I now need an extension cord. "No biggie. I have an extra one and I will leave it out with the mower," I responded.
Derik came by to hack away at our yard. I was not there but from the evidence was very clear. He must have ran up and down the yard in record time. The yard was cut and mostly not in several places and yes he did get to the hedges. Made a mess and did not clean up afterwards.
Now backing up a bit to this blog enty, someone else happened to be home walking out the door before he finished. Derik being the brillant business mind picked up his check but asked for an additional $5 for triming the hedges.
To my surprise, I returned home to find a mess and discovered that it cost us an additional $5. Now considering that he would not have been able to even cut our yard without my mower he came out ahead. But he got greedy and lost a customer.
Lesson here - Actually there is two. First when you see that your clients are being flexible dont forget to treat them with care. Second always hire a professional and don't let emotions get in the way of your decisions.
Dave Josephson, The Growth Coach® of Jax serves business owners, small practioners, organizations, sales professionals and those who know that they have what it takes to make a better life for themselves and their families.