Taking Out The Trash

I'm having a character building couple of weeks.  Our family got hit with that damn cold/flu/SARS thing that was circulating and right on cue the kids incubate the new virus and infected the adults into a super-size form.  It hit Kaiya first so the already predispositioned, high energy Tazmanian Devil went into overdrive and our home was instantly changed into a war zone where we lost every parenting battle with the two foot evil warlord.  We were at our wits end with a toddler that was impossible to please and she rewarded any displeasure by puking on us.  The virus then grabbed a hold of Tai which meant it brought out the mega wuss.  This kid is so emotionally sensitive he would cry over everything.  Gawd forbid if his dad ever forgot to kiss him goodnight.  So between the screaming demon banshee and the emo crying man child I was ready to slit my wrists.  Unfortunately for me, I didn't have time to take my own life because I got sick as well.  I do believe I have not slept for a week due to the lovely fact that every time I go horizontal it amplifies the coughing situation.  Let's just say my coping skills close to going postal.

Being an entrepreneur is not a task for the faint hearted.  If you don't believe in yourself, aren't hardwired for overly generous bouts of positive thinking, love a sense of adventure, and seek every challenge as an opportunity to learn more about yourself then do yourself a favor and get a job with a punch clock.  On most days I am on cloud nine.  I am passionate about what I do and pinch myself everyday that I am living my dream.  On the odd days, I question my sanity and walk a lonely road of second guessing why I wanted to walk the lonely road.

I have been a rare statistic in my industry by the fact that I still have my doors open for operations.  The economy took down a lot of independent retailers who's pocket books and blood pressure levels couldn't take the risk anymore.  Through an immense learning curve that organically happened, my company went from just a retailer to one that also offers full interior design services.  I have amazing clients that have grown my business by referrals and years of repeat business because of it.  As a seasoned professional, I have been exposed to many different situations that have created the Teflon skin I don every morning.  In retail there is a myth that exists that says the customer is always right.  This week, I put 19 years of retail experience on the line and confidently fired a hell client just to throw into the Universe that no, the customer is not always right.  Sometimes they are just crazy.

She entered the store like most of our potential clients.  The showroom captured her imagination and her heart was won by the meticulous care I pour into the visual merchandising.  She inquired about out services and we present our usual shtick.  I have a rule that I only take on clients that are big budget and let my juniors take on the rest.  My other rule is that yes, if you want my level of experience then my time with be valued higher.  If you play by my rules then I will take you on.  She wanted some direction, enjoyed our friendly banter and wanted to sign me on.  Through the conversation I can already tell she wasn't big budget so I politely let her know my portfolio is full but my junior interior is available to assist her.  She whines that it's not the same and she insists that she wants to book me.  I confidently let her know that Rachael has been brainwashed to think like me, act like and breathe like me so she will be receiving a mini me.  In addition I oversee every project to ensure it meets my standards and act as a safeguard against any red flags.  She insists that I work with her so I tell her my rate which she scoffs is out of her budget.  I let her know perhaps the junior rate would be a better fit and there is some comment that she can't really afford that as well.  I should have known right there to stop the conversation and run the other direction.

My love for making money ignored the gut reaction and we successfully book her with the talented Rachael.  To make a long story short, our client turns out to be one of those, "I don't know what I want so I want you to play mastermind psychologist, enter the no fly zone and pull out the bullshit pent up in my head and put it together beautifully in 3D form."  Combine this pyschosis with a, "I'm cheap and will nickel and dime you for everything" with a dash of,  "I have no style but I don't really want your professional advice, I just want you be compliant and agree with my nasty vision."  At one point in the conversation I actually told her point blank, "I don't do ugly design.  You are forcing me to offer an opinion on the lesser of two uglies which I refuse to do."  After three weeks of this stress that no one on my team wanted anymore, I finally called it quits and sent off an email that was written with incredible restraint: Out of respect for your time, I am recommending that we withdraw participation from your project.  Despite our best efforts it is clear that you are unhappy and frustrated with everything that we have done.  I immediately get the scathing phone call where she takes no responsibility for the dysfunctional relationship and places all the blame on my poor Rachael who's self esteem is already obliterated by our hell client.  But for some random reason she still wants us to continue working with her.  Here I am giving her the opportunity to refund EVERYTHING and cleanly part ways before my voodoo doll making skills come into practice and she still wants to hang out.  WTF?

I checked to see if hell froze over or if pigs were flying and then scan my store to see if a hidden camera is some where.  Out of interest for my company's reputation I reluctantly attempt to salvage the relationship and project and put restraints on the mad woman.  Essentially she is to direct all queries towards me and leave Rachael the eff alone.  Don't mess with Mama Bear's babies, biatch because I will tear you down.  Two weeks later, an email inbox of crazy photos and consistent indecisiveness, it was clear it was time to take out the trash.  Today I sent out yet another email in response her to idiotic request that I offer free advice on whether the products our competitor sells will work.  In addition, she had the audacity to ask for a refund of two hours on our consultation fees when realistically I should have sent her a bill of 30 hours for all the work we did holding her hand, stroking her ego and re-assuring her that everything will be fine.  It took EVERY cell in my body to take the high road and write the final email to end the relationship.  The email was polite, three sentences long and did not include slander against her emotional instability and or death threats.  This itself is a huge win for me considering I have no coping skills from all the sickness plaguing the family let alone the ability to white glove handle a hell client.

I always have used the analogy in life that if your home is full of shit because you didn't have the courage to take your trash to the curb nothing loving and positive can enter the home because there is no room!  Hoarders are buried alive for a reason and you have no one to blame but yourself.  I have learned that weekly upkeep in your home will prevent you from painfully hauling out that rotting dead corpse that you were pretending wasn't a big issue until you realize that even your neighbors can smell the stench.  If something is not working in your life it's most likely because you did not honor yourself.  You devalued your worth and yes, another person will take advantage of it.  The most lovingly thing you can do in that moment is recognize that you need to let it go and release that pain, hurt, frustration, anxiety, depression and stress to make room for the positive energy that flows abundantly in this universe.

Today I wrote a refund cheque made payable to "Client From Hell" and a huge weight was immediately lifted from my shoulders.  I am also comforted by the fact that she needed to buy a new cell phone because she dropped it in the ugly paint she chose against my recommendations.