Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

'Breaking up' with a toxic client is hard to do.  You have resolved to get them off your 'books,' they are not worth the emotional stress, time or money, but you just can't seem to cut the cord.  

"How do I actually do it?" is the question most often asked by my Client Retention Program clients.  There are no pat answer, but there are effective ways to politely break off the relationship.

Prepare for the conversation by scripting the main points you want to make, be seconded on the phone or in person with someone who is on your side and stick to the facts.

In preparation:

1) Review the contract:  Were the terms and conditions met by both parties?  If there is a discrepancy on your side, can you fix it quickly to meet the terms of the contract? Prepare your conversation by stating how you met the terms of the contract.

Ex: Deadline request was met on such and such date as stated in statement of work.

2) Know your facts:  During difficult conversations with difficult clients, nothing speaks louder than facts.  What are the relevant facts that can be discussed to bring the relationship to positive closure?

Ex: Client was non-responsive to phone calls or emails.  State directly the dates of those phone calls and emails to show the lapse in response from their point of contact or other personnel. 

3) What business result do you want by terminating the relationship? Determining the outcome that is aligned with your business objectives helps keep you on a steady course.  Ugly clients often throw you off to give them a form of control, especially if they begin to realize their culpability.

Ex: Objective is to recoup lost revenues, but client refuses to pay anything as they don't see how your services helped them.

What gives you strength during these conversations is being 'seconded' by someone on your side.  A semi-neutral person who understands your business, is briefed on the facts and can interject reason in the discussion should it get heated.

Change is good for the heart!

Change is good for the heart and the soul.  After five years, I am retiring the Innerwealth brand and moving forward with Strategies for Growth.

This new company is focused on creating Client Retention Programs for service organizations. Firms such as Consultants and Adviors, PR firms and law firms will benefit from the focus The Good the Bad and The Ugly program brings to their bottom line.  My clients have experienced at uptick in revenues of over 450%.


Stay tuned - more coming.

Lunchtime Dreamers

I worked for a busy Fortune 500 corporation from the age of 24 to 40something.  I rarely looked up from my desk from 7AM-10PM that the job and promotions demanded.  But on the weekends I turned into the outdoor adventuressI wanted to be in high school.   Why did I not pursue this path full time?  'Cause of the money honey.  There was NO money in adventuring in those days.  You took a vow of poverty and that was that.

Well I like to inhabit nice, clean places and wanted to own a home of my own. So off to work I went on Monday mornings, tired, exhausted from the all-night driving when coming back from a high energy weekend in some distant California outpost.  I kayaked, skied, climbed, backpacked every weekend and had a blast.

During the week, I ate lunch at my desk and plotted with my travel agent adventure buddy where to go next.  I wished I had had the internet then to keep me company.  I could have viewed all manner of places with out leaving my desk and reduce my stress. Check this link out and you'll know what I mean.

http://bit.ly/cWUI72

Happy Lunchtime Dreaming!

Carnitas Sabrosas in Los Angeles

Carnitas in Los Angeles

As a child in Mexico City I was served every style of Mexican food cooked in our kitchen: empanadas, pollo, carne asada, rice, beans, plantains, etc. But NOTHING and I mean NOTHING compared to the taste of fresh tortillas from the tortilla factory around the corner from our apartment.  Our criada would carry a cloth-covered basket and a small black coin purse, grab my hand (I was only 5) and take me to the corner tortilla factory. While we stood in line I would watch in wonder as the tortillas were placed on a conveyor belt after being 'slapped' by the strong hands of the 'fabricantes.'  The belt would carry flat, wet tortillas up towards a hole near the ceiling, disappear behind a wall, through the stove and then back down towards us, hot, puffy and delicious. It was magic!

Our criada would take 2 out of our basket and have the local food cart fill each with carnitas.  One bite into the tortilla and I was transported to heaven. This is the experience I look for every time I enter a Mexican food joint in Los Angeles and give their carnitas a try.

Here are two of my favorites:

Poquito Mas - Sherman Oaks - Dos Sabrosa Estrellas

I often skip lunch just so I can bee bop down to Poquito Mas in Sherman Oaks, order to go and eat on the way to picking up Daughter#2 at school.  When she gets in she can smell the wonderful smell and says, "Hey, where is my burrito?"  I hand one over to her and she smiles in extreme pleasure.  Puts her in a good mood the rest of the day.

Hot fresh Mexican/American food is their pervue and they cook it up fresh everyday.   The carnitas are tender, well-cooked and not too greasy.  SABROSA is the word I use as they are not mixed with lots of salsa or other some such cover up sauce. Several all over LA.

La Luz Del Dia - Olvera Street - Tres Sabrosa Estrellas

My mother loved Mexico with all her heart and when not traveling through the country, she would trek down to Olvera Street, with us in tow, for a bit of authentic Mexican food.  After trying all the various restaurants on the street she declared "La Luz Del Diaz" the best. The atmosphere was 'very public Mexican marketplace' and the food home cooked.

It became a habit that we would go there every Sunday night.  We had the place to ourselves, the owner would flirt with my mother and we would gobble up the extra portions he served us along with the best rice, beans and guacamole going.  We would leave the place beyond full and drop into a deep sleep on the drive home.

A recent trip to Olvera Street showed me the the place nor the food has changed.  The carnitas are still the juciest, cooked slow overnight.  They are so tender that the women behind the glass counter serve them up by hand as a fork makes them fall apart - as carnitas should be. The tortillas are thick and warm and puffed up as in Mexico.  TRIPLE SABROSA is the rating on these puppies.  Ordered with or without beans, rice, salsa and guacamole.

Socks

I have been running around barefoot all summer long. I love barefoot as I can really feel dirt or grass or carpet between my toes. I love walking from a warm carpet to a cool kitchen floor on a hot summer's day. And most of all, I love digging my toes in the sand while sitting on the beach, watching the family surf the waves.

So when I recently put on a pair of socks for the first time in 4 months, I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful they felt. I mean really surprised. They were soft and warm and cushiony in my gardening shoes. Ohhhh...... how sweet it is.

My daughter #2 knows the sweetness of socks. Last winter she posted a sign on the refrigerator door. To it was pinned one gray sock with the following message:

"Lost Sock. Please help me find this sock. Reward, $6.79. Very important sock. My feet are cold."

I went to my chiropractor, Dr. Dana Zappala (drdanazappala.com) today for an adjustment. I noticed she was wearing Uggs. Now mind you, it is 89 degrees outside and Los Angeles is headed for another Santa Ana dry hot wind with temps spiking up to 101 degrees.

Why the Uggs, I ask? Apparently her home was fogged in this morning and she was chilled. She wanted to feel snuggly and cozy and warm up her bones. It threw us both into "wanting winter" so we spoke about oncoming winter fog, cold winds and socks.

Her eyes lite up and she said, pointing to her Uggs, "I am wearing socks and it feel sooooo good!" She knows the sweetness of socks.

With winter coming on, I decided to match up all the irregulars in my drawers. Had 26 socks and only got to six full pairs. Well I guess the washing machine and dryer also know the sweetness of socks.

By the way, D#2 found the sock herself and kept her reward.