Attention Start-up Small Business Owners (especially service providers): Beware of Energy and Time Vampires!! When you are new to the business world, there could come a time when you'll feel desperate for customers and that could lead you to accepting an Energy Vampire as a client.
Fortunately, Energy Vampires are easy to recognize:
Fortunately, Energy Vampires are easy to recognize:
• Unlike traditional Vampires who typically have wealth and means, Energy Vampires are usually broke or unwilling to share information about their budget…because they are broke.
• Energy Vampires have no specific goals; they flitter from one focus to another and constantly complain that they are not making any head-way.
• Energy Vampires know EVERYTHING. You may often have to ask yourself why they sought you out. They ignore your expertise and advice and then complain that they need more expertise and more advice.
• Energy Vampires are very defensive; when you make a sign of the cross-roads to success, they shrink back and cover themselves with a cloak of self-justifying excuses for not following your advice.
• Energy Vampires do not respect your time; they will show up late, miss calls and appointments and expect you to work below your price-point. When you emphasize the value that you place on your time, they will side-step, change the subject and use other tactics of distraction to slurp up even more of your time and energy.
If you recognize any of these traits in a potential client, start moving away from them immediately. Never forget your reasons for becoming an independent business owner and avoid those who would “suck up your time and energy”, without ample compensation, under the guise of providing them services.
If you do decide to keep an Energy Vampire on your list of clientele, be certain to adjust your prices to match the time and energy they will no doubt suck out of you. As a matter of fact, if you set your prices correctly, Energy Vampires will shrink and shrivel-up! They will turn to dust right before your eyes!
In service provisioning the old adage prevails; “The customer is always right”.
…but keep in mind that you have the responsibility to pick the right customers .... "Vet" your clients....you'll be glad you did!
• Energy Vampires have no specific goals; they flitter from one focus to another and constantly complain that they are not making any head-way.
• Energy Vampires know EVERYTHING. You may often have to ask yourself why they sought you out. They ignore your expertise and advice and then complain that they need more expertise and more advice.
• Energy Vampires are very defensive; when you make a sign of the cross-roads to success, they shrink back and cover themselves with a cloak of self-justifying excuses for not following your advice.
• Energy Vampires do not respect your time; they will show up late, miss calls and appointments and expect you to work below your price-point. When you emphasize the value that you place on your time, they will side-step, change the subject and use other tactics of distraction to slurp up even more of your time and energy.
If you recognize any of these traits in a potential client, start moving away from them immediately. Never forget your reasons for becoming an independent business owner and avoid those who would “suck up your time and energy”, without ample compensation, under the guise of providing them services.
If you do decide to keep an Energy Vampire on your list of clientele, be certain to adjust your prices to match the time and energy they will no doubt suck out of you. As a matter of fact, if you set your prices correctly, Energy Vampires will shrink and shrivel-up! They will turn to dust right before your eyes!
In service provisioning the old adage prevails; “The customer is always right”.
…but keep in mind that you have the responsibility to pick the right customers .... "Vet" your clients....you'll be glad you did!
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