Bye Old Friend

It's hard to change. It's hard to stop doing the same things you did over and over again. It's even harder if that thing is a person, a friend. However, there are times when relationships should and do end.

That doesn't make it any easier to not wake up early on Wednesday morning, not walk upstairs for a talk, shoot that person a quick email or read their blog.

To my dear beloved friend, goodbye.

Five Things to do when you make a Mistake

Have you ever had the client that won't stop, the project that won't end or the worst mistake you've ever made. As much as we never want to see any of those things happen they do and the question isn't how it happened but what to do now.

These problems present us with unique opportunities to really show what we're worth. Will we throw up our hands or will we do everything possible to make it right.

In college I worked my way through as a waiter. As much as I checked my tickets or reviewed something occasionally food came out wrong. I could have misheard the client, typed it in wrong, the kitchen could have prepared it wrong or even it just wasn't what the guest was expecting.

What now?

I could argue with the guest that this is what they ordered, tell them it wasn't my fault, blame it on bad ordering software or a myriad of other things. We all know that isn't the right way to handle the order. Many restaurants had exact steps for handling those situations:

1. Remove the order from the table: don't let them sit there and look at the mistake.
   
2. Apologize: It doesn't matter whose fault it is. Be the bigger person and diffuse the situation. Ultimately these people are your clients and are paying your salary (waiters don't get a pay check other than their tips).
   
3. Clarify the order: Make sure you understand the problem and how to fix it.
   
4. Correct it- Quickly: Get the order in to the kitchen ASAP, don't hold the ticket. Talk to the kitchen and let them know the problem and bring the manger in on it.
   
5. If all else fails bring a manager into the process: They are equipped with higher levels of authority to make good for the client, not to argue with them.
   

How easily though we forget that when we enter the professional world. I think the same could apply to almost any industry including design.

I wish I had remembered that earlier today.