If I ever make a bloody gigantic mistake with a client…
My approach: honesty is the best policy.
(Wow… some measure of manners and decency DID seep in from my parents!)
Now…
This isn’t some sort of confession today. And I’m not speaking from experience of an uber-massive stuff up with clients…
(Hope I’m not tempting fate by talking about this!)
Although, I’ve had my share of minor ones.
Like the “things turned to custard at my end so missed sending an email campaign on time” kind of ones.
And there were a few other “oopses.”
Fortunately, they are things that customers of my clients don’t tend to notice. So the impact isn’t so great.
But the embarrassment was still written all over my face.
And other freelancers have had their fair share of mistakes too.
One time, a friend was waiting for an email from their client. But didn’t think to check the spam folder.
They were waiting for weeks. Thinking the client was being as slack as anything.
And of course the email was there all the time… just tucked away in spam.
Yeah… OOPS!
Their client was like, “Hey, it happens. Someone else I know had the same problem too.”
😅
I’m all for owning up. Even if you have to eat some humble pie.
Better to get a mop and bucket to slop up your own mess…
Than leaving it for someone else to deal with.
Plus, you might avoid the egg splatter on your face.
Why risk ending up with your reputation in tatters?
I’m sure we don’t want to be like United Airlines.
The story goes…
When musician, Dave Carroll, flew United… the baggage handlers were seen out on the tarmac tossing around his precious Taylor guitar.
Of course it broke.
Short story: United refused to take responsibility.
Now Carroll’s song, United Breaks Guitars, has 23-million views on YouTube!
Oh… and he wrote two other songs… just as he promised them he would.
The world’s biggest yolk-laden projectile and United’s face were in perfect alignment.
Sure, when we stuff up… our pride may take a bruising.
But I don’t think welcoming a skerrick of humility is a bad thing.
I want to be prepared if the big one should come along. To be ready to fess up. And do what’s needed to make it right.
Thankfully, clients understand I’m human.
I’m sure your clients will view you in the same way. (You are human, right? 😱)
But like most things… making the same mistake time after time tends to become less tolerable.
So… some good advice I like to follow, “Learn from your mistakes.”
(There I go, echoing my parents again… Thanks mum and dad!)
Here’s the song video I’m sure you’re dying to watch… 🤣
Ready to build your email list? Go here…
EmailForTheWin.com
Chris Milham