By Richard Mabey Jr.
A lot of times, we think that in order to succeed in a business that we need to give in to the terms and demands of a customer. Sadly, if we follow this philosophy in business, like the fading, outgoing tide, we end up losing a bit of our dreams, little by little. And then out unique thumb print, is smudged and blurred, by having given into the demands of one customer after another.
When I was first diagnosed with Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, my first cardiologist recommended that I give up my little dog walking business. I listened to my original cardiologist, and it was all such a very big mistake on my part. I began to miss the joy and splendor of caring for the dozen or so neighborhood pups that I would care for, when their owners would take a week off to visit their adult children in the lands north of sunny Florida.
I also began missing that extra income that my dog care business afforded me. It was just the whipped cream above the top of the hot fudge sundae, to my monthly Social Security and pension checks.
This past week or so, I have spent a lot of time outside in my yard. I find that I am still able to still do the yard work of weeding, trimming hedges, clipping the low-lying branches of my Live Oak, and caring for the plants and flowers in my front yard, if I pace myself. But I have to keep reminding myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day.
At any rate, this past week, all so many of my old clients stopped and chatted with me. They all talked to me about one common theme, that they wished I would return to caring for and walking their dogs, when they went away for a few days.
I thought a lot about this and prayed about it a lot. I realized that I could reopen my little business, but it would have to be on my terms. No longer would I have the stamina to take Rover for a mile-long walk that his owner had set as one of the must-do requirements that I had to meet, while they were away. I could walk their little puppy around the block, but that was all. And, it would have to be two walks around the block each day, instead of five or six long walks that they had previously required. Their little pupper would now have to adjust to “finding his or her spot” while walking around the backyard.
I’m working on a little pamphlet that will lay down the new rules, for me to take care of Rover, while the pup’s owners travel the highway up north to visit relatives. My goal is to be fair, but no longer giving into whimsical rules laid down by my clients. I don’t know how my old clients will accept these new rules. But I do know one thing for sure, all of my old clients, whom I talked with this past week, were very unhappy with the way their new dog walker cared for their precious little puppy.
If you’re in business for yourself, please do take a step back and ask yourself if you’re giving in too much to the requirements and demands of your customers. Do you find that your original dream, your starting out vision, has been watered down by customer demands? Do you find that you’ve lost some of the joy, splendor and happiness that you once had, when you first started your business? Perhaps, it’s time to once again wear the captain’s hat and firmly take hold of the steering wheel.
To thine own self be true. Respect begins with the respect you hold for yourself. Be kind to yourself. Stand firm, strong and bold, and be the one to define the purpose and vision of your business. Be steadfast. Hold dear to a kind spirit but be strong and true to how you want to run your business. Above all else, to thine own self be true.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.