Kid’s parties today are like the moon on a stick compared to what I had in the 80’s…
My son (Barney) has been to three in the past month alone.
An F1 driving experience.
A retro roller disco.
And an escape room.
Now, on the drive home from one last weekend, I blew his mind.
“Barney – you know, when I was your age, parties were at McDonalds. At best. If you were lucky you’d get locked in the freezer.”
To start with he thought I was lying….
Then, when he realised I wasn’t pulling his leg, he was confused.
“But why did they lock you in the freezer Dad?!”
I guess looking back, locking kids in freezers is questionable.
“It was a different time son.”
… With very different expectations of fun.
And it got me thinking about you, this game and the expectations that get set…
See, like my 10-year-old, customers far too often expect the moon on a stick.
Sometimes this is because they make dikhead demands.
B-U-T…
More often than not, it’s because they don’t know any better…
They’ve got used to getting what they get, and how they get it.
Which means what they’re expecting and what you’re delivering is outta whack.
And, that my friend is on you.
After all, if you don’t set and stick to your standards, upfront, how can you assume their expectations are aligned with yours?
It’s why in this game, you’d always be wise to…
– Set standards on when you will (and won’t) answer emails.
– Set standards on what is (and isn’t) included.
– Set standards on when you will (and won’t) be on the job.
The truth is, and if the questions and comments I get are to be believed, too many good men are frightened to set standards.
Worried about rocking the boat.
Scared about pyssing off customers.
Yet in the cold hard light of day, there’s a funny thing that happens when your standards are set and your rules of engagement are laid bare for all too see…
They accept them.
And they play by them.
The best thing about that?
The customer is happy because they know what’s happening.
And in my experience, when a customer is happy they stop pestering…
When they stop pestering you can start working on the business instead of in it…
When you are working on the business instead of in it you can make more money…
When you make money you can have more freedom…
And when you have more freedom, well this whole game of life becomes much (much) more fun.
Which means your mantra for money this week is short and simple:
Set some expectations.
Nail them to the wall.
Stick to them.
Like your life depends on it.
Because it does.
Until next time.
Make More. Provide More. Be More.
Charlie Hutton
