The Desert of Arizona
Clear 73 Degrees – 10:43 a.m.
So here’s our little exercise for today.
Think of ONE person in your life and pick one thing they do/don’t do on a consistent basis. For example, someone you know who doesn’t smoke. What happens if you see them tomorrow and they’re doing the exact opposite?
You’d probably think that was odd. You might even ask them about it. Why?
Because they’d be doing something that was not what you expected from them. You perceived them one way, and they messed with that perception.
This is what it feels like to your clients when their perception of you puts you in box X and you show up one day dressed in box Y.
This is how it must have seemed when yours truly, computer consultant and resident tech geek, started talking to his clients like a business consultant one day.
The cognitive dissonance must have been unbearable. Sorry!
They didn’t say it, but I’m sure they were thinking, “But you’re the tech guy…” Exactly.
This happens all the time. Especially when a service provider’s expertise extends well beyond the current perception the client has of that expertise.
And so the web designer starts advising on marketing…
And the freelance photographer starts advising on fashion or make-up…
The marketing consultant starts advising the CEO about how to work through internal fears…
The content marketing writer starts advising on product development strategy or client conversion strategy.
When this type of thing happens, it’s usually the service provider who ends up feeling under appreciated because of it.
Little did I know when this happened to me that… it was all my fault!
My experience has shown that once you are put in a box by your client, you will never change that box. You have much better things to do than to try.
So if you’re in this situation, just let it be.
The real priority is to make sure you’re drawing a box that’s accurate for the clients who are coming in the future.
Have you drawn the right box?