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Can we talk about the time a client's wife offered me a coffee and it changed how I talk about money?
I was finishing up a laminate install in a nice house in Tacoma, maybe two years back. The husband was at work, and his wife was home. She asked if I wanted a coffee while I was packing up my tools. We got talking, just small talk, and she asked how business was. I gave my usual vague 'oh, it's okay' line. She looked at me and said, 'You know, you're in our house. You can tell me if it's great or if it's slow.' That hit me. I realized I was always scared to sound like I was doing too well or not well enough, so I just mumbled. Now, if a client asks, I'm honest. I might say 'summer is always busy for me' or 'it's picking up after the holidays.' It builds a real connection. Has anyone else found that being a little more open with clients actually helps get more work?
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terry_thomas22d ago
Man, I gotta be honest, that would backfire for me. I run a small landscaping crew. If I tell a client business is slow, they might think I'm desperate or not good enough to stay busy. If I say it's great, they might think I'll overcharge them or be too busy to fit them in. I keep it polite but neutral. "We're staying on schedule" or "keeping the trucks rolling" is my go-to. It's just safer. Sharing too much feels like an unnecessary risk.
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betty_price1421d ago
That tightrope walk is everywhere now. You see it when people ask how you're doing and the real answer gets stuck behind a polite "fine, thanks." It's like we're all managing a brand instead of just talking, scared any real detail will be used against us.
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the_lee12d ago
That coffee story really gets at something. It's the same feeling at a grocery store when the cashier asks how your day is and you just say "good" automatically, even if it isn't. We're all trained to give the safe, non-answer. But that lady was right, you're already in their home, they chose you. A little real talk can build trust the vague stuff never does. Do you find people open up more when you drop the script first?
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