The NonBillable Hour

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Try to be Bob

Genius Hugh MacLeod has another gem (I've collected so many, I might add them to my garage sale).  Hugh writes about his favorite cab driver, but he could be writing about any service professional he uses:

About once a week, I have to catch the late train home. Bob the cab driver always meets me the station and drives me to my house.

Bob’s got what Seth Godin calls “The Free Prize”. He's got what Tom Peters calls “The Wow! Factor”. He's got something I like that no other cab driver has. It might be his jovial manner, it might be I like the fact his car is colored red. It might be the fact that he's very reliable. The reason doesn't matter so much. Regardless, Bob gets my business 100% of the time. When he can't make it I let his brother pick me up instead, but that doesn't happen too often. I call no other cab service but Bob's. There are a lot of cab companies where I live. Cab driving is a pretty commodified business. But I call Bob. Every time. I like Bob.

The minute he pisses me off for whatever reason I’ll find another cab driver I like just as much.

Don't forget that last sentence when you are dealing with clients.  The biggest mistake lawyers make is to overestimate their client's loyalty and tolerance for inattention.