As Entrepreneurs, we hate to turn down business. However, sometimes we should because if we take on a project we really shouldn’t do, then our reputation could become damaged. To illustrate this point, let me tell you a story…
We needed a new Playground
The playground in my subdivision needed to be updated, so we (the homeowner’s association) went off to handle the task.
Now the playground needed some serious work, but we had a limited budget. Therefore, we could not hire a typical playground company, so we hired a landscaping company instead.
We were told by the landscaping company that they could work within our budget to update the playground. After they finished the playground, it looked great. However, after a few days of kids playing, their work didn’t hold up. (see the picture below)
What happened?
Well, they were a landscaping company, not a playground company. They assumed that updating a playground was just like landscaping a yard. But here’s the thing. When you landscape a yard kids usually don’t play on it.
With a yard, you can assume that once you set it up, then you are done. A playground has to look good and be functional to handle all the kids that will be running, swinging, jumping, and just overall mayhem.
The landscaping company made it look good without adding the necessary support to handle kids playing.
Why? Because they did not have the experience of a real playground company. A playground company would have told us either our budget was too low or we should do it another way.
The landscaping company just did what we told them to do. But, hey, we don’t know what we are doing either. A real playground company would have educated us on what could or couldn’t be done.
Now we are mad with the landscaping company because they did a bad job. But whose fault is it really?
The Lesson for You
As a business, you must be the expert and tell your customers what can and can’t be done to achieve the desired result they are looking for.
If you just follow what your customers tell you to do, then they are going to blame you for the failure when those directions don’t workout. Next, they will tell all their friends and associates how you did a bad job, which will damage your reputation.
Now your reputation is damaged, but you really shouldn’t have taken on the project.
As Entrepreneurs, we like to say yes to customers. However, if your customer asks you to do a project your business is not skilled at doing, then you shouldn’t do it.
Also if your customer asks you to do something that will have a bad outcome, then you should explain to them why that will not work. Then if they persist in doing it that way, you should respectfully decline to do it because when it doesn’t work out they are going to blame you even though it was their idea.
Stick to what your business does best and what your business knows is best, and just say no to the rest.
This message is taught by Amos Johnson Jr, PhD. He leads and pastors Church for Entrepreneurs. God has given him a calling to help believers succeed at their calling. He believes a fulfilled life comes from clearly knowing what God has called you to do and doing it.
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