The Grief Factor

Some Jobs Cost More Than Your Time and Related Costs

Have you ever spent an excessively long time calculating a quote for a job and then realize that you didn’t want this job at any price.

What to do? I completed my calculations and then suddenly doubled my calculations.

For a moment, the prospective customers were in total shock. They immediately turned me down, and I left quickly.

Perhaps that wasn’t a nice thing to do, but I enjoyed my work and didn’t want the unpleasantness I believed this job would involve.

I realized the potential cost of what I called “The Grief Factor” during my years in home repair, remodeling, and the woodworking business.

I’ve come to realize that it also appears in my publishing business and is probably a part of most small and one-person businesses, especially those providing services.

Most customers simply want quality work at a fair price. Do what you agreed to do, treat them with respect, and everything usually works out.

Unfortunately, you may run into a prospective customer who gives you reason to believe the job will require far more time, discussions, changes, and aggravation than the work would normally require.

Recognizing it before accepting a job can be critical to profitability.

Sometimes it appears as a complete surprise, as it did with one of my kitchen cabinet jobs.