A mentor of mine once told me that I should want all customers.\u00a0 As great of a person as he is in my life, I respectfully disagree.\u00a0 This is why your mission, values, a vision are so important in starting a business.\u00a0 You do not go to a restaurant expecting an establishment known for seafood to sell burgers.\u00a0 You know many chain restaurants are going to provide a different experience than a locally (small business) owned restaurant.\u00a0 You know a Michelin 3 Star restaurant is going to be a different experience than a fast-food restaurant with a 3am drive through window.<\/p>\n
For example, I ask someone what kind of atmosphere, demographic, and food will be served?\u00a0 He or she responds, “I don’t know, food.”\u00a0 You probably think that is a silly response.\u00a0 You would also not be surprised if this restaurant struggles or fails within a year.\u00a0 You may even question if this person takes starting a restaurant seriously at all.\u00a0 But I just described the mindset of most detailing business owners starting out!\u00a0 Even those who are a year or so in business wondering why they are unsuccessful, do not get this.<\/p>\n
The problem as a business owner with not having clarity is always finding consumers who match that generalized thinking, who often have desires that do not align with your strengths.\u00a0 Generally when things go wrong, that often involve having the wrong client, they blame you.\u00a0 Even when it is clearly reasonable their fault, there is still an accountability deflection.\u00a0 We call these the problem or ‘headache clients’ that were not worth the hassle, that (not always) could be avoided.\u00a0 I am considered difficult to access early on by many consumers for this reason.\u00a0 Oftentimes the same people that become irritated because you want to thoughtfully manage expectations and suggest an appropriate service, are THE SAME EXACT people that blame you failed expectations.\u00a0 There is justice in allowing those people to shop for fast-food option while complaining about fast food experience.<\/p>\n