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Is turning down work actually helpful?

sparkyfirepants | August 21st, 2009

I need to make this a short post because I’m rebuilding the Sparky Firepants web site (or, as my daughter calls it, “your dot com”) and there are a few people I’m helping with their graphics. Busy but happy.

So speaking of graphics and web sites, I have a thought.

Is it possible your thing doesn’t need any graphics?

This sounds like a galactically insane idea from a dude who makes graphics for people and their things. So… let’s ask the Grandmas: grandmas

Grandma D: Well, David. That’s certainly an interesting idea. I’m not sure you’ll win any customers that way, but it’s interesting.

Me: Grandma, I call them “Clients.” Customers buy candy bars at 7-Eleven. I have “Clients.” I’m very important that way.

Grandma D: [laughs] Well, you may call them clients, but I imagine they call themselves something else whether you want them to or not.

Me: Oh. Good point.

Grandma K: Honey, do you want some orange pop?

Me: Thanks, Grandma, but it’s only 10:00 AM. Maybe with lunch.

Grandma K: Do you want some lunch then?

Me: Um… OK. What do you think about what I said on my blog?

Grandma K: Oh, Dear, I don’t read blogs. What did you say?

Me: I brought up the idea that some people don’t need graphics for their stuff, even if they think they do.

Grandma K: So how would you make money?

Me: That’s not the point. The point is that if somebody wants a graphic for their thing, but I just think it’s the wrong thing for their thing, I have to tell them – even if it means I can’t help them.

Grandma D: But you are helping them in a way.

Me: Exactly! It’s kind of like in Miracle on 34th Street where Santa sends people away to Gimbell’s for toys. He just wants to help them, even if it means directing them somewhere else.

Grandma D: [Laughs] David, you’re a little thin to be Santa, aren’t you?

Grandma K: That’s true, Honey, you are a little thin. I love that movie. Do you want some lunch?

So there you have it. I couldn’t make this stuff up. The Grandmas say what they want, I just transcribe.

I have to go eat my lunch, but I wanted to get this thought out to you.

What if helping people sometimes means not helping them, which is really helping them because they’re getting what they really need instead of what they think they need, which is wrong but nobody is telling them?

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  • I often turn people away. If they're not ready, they're not ready and I'm not willing to take their
    money if what I offer isn't going to serve them well.

    Sometimes I even send them off with homework. Some come back, some don't, but the people I do work for really need what I have to offer.
    .-= Susan Fuller´s last blog ..The limitations of online market research =-.
  • Besides being the right thing to do, I often find that turning down work when what we offer isn't the right thing saves us a miserable experience.

    If what you're offering isn't right for the customer-y client, if you try to make it work, it's square pegging into a round hole.
  • I JUST did this and have been thinking about it for a while. Are you in my head or something, Sparky? If so, stay as long as you like. :)
  • jaydub
    Having someone offer an honest, well-reasoned opinion based on their professional experience is actually a valuable and all-too-rare occurrence.

    I often ask clients why they want some particular thing. If it's simply because "this other guy has one," then the conversation moves back to their long-range goals, true needs, vision and strategy.

    You're actually strengthening your trust base with your clients when you advise them against something - it shows that you're not simply about moving another widget. And they'll come back next time.
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