Helping one of my oldest clients and being bitten by the scope monster.
A couple of days ago I got a call.
I couldn't pick up (was watching Sam) so it went to voicemail.
On my voicemail, I'm informing my clients that I'm going to call it quits.
When I later checked who called I saw a familiar name.
One of my oldest clients.
Mr. and Ms. Web.
I rang them back and they were in a slight panic....
You are not going to quit on us, are you!
Now, when I say oldest clients I mean it.
I think they are client number #7.
Back then (2008) I didn't own a car.
They lived in the next town so it was a good 30 minutes by bike with all my gear.
Because I opted to be professional I hid my bike in another street and walked to the door.
Very Genius!...Much professional!...
Except for all the sweat dripping off my face...
I quickly came clean and they couldn't care less about the bike.
I helped them perfectly with their problem that day and they were happy.
That's what they did care about.
And they been my clients ever since.
They were fairly old then but they are even older now.
Computers and Smartphones are tough enough as it is and they don't want to rely on anyone else.
I have told them they can always call me and I asked about the problem.
They got a 'new iPhone' (read: Iphone5) and the Vodafone store couldn't help them change everything from the previous iPhone without throwing everything away.
There was panic.
An easy enough job. So I went there today.
It's very easy the change iPhones so it took about 20 minutes to do it.
I was already packing my bag.
But then.....he showed up...
"Can you also look at our computer it's giving an error."
A question like this is known as 'the scope monster' in my field.
I got the term from @s3rg3.
All my alarm bells should have started ringing straight away!
But the scope monster pops it's head up when you least expect it.
And before you know it, you hear yourself say 'yes, no problem'.
Soon, I found myself wadding knee deep in windows 10 errors.
The exact sort of thing I don't enjoy anymore.
Two hours later I did solve it and but I was destroyed :)
They were very happy though, so that's good.
For me, it was a good reminder that this isn't the life I want anymore.
Still, I will go there when they call, they deserve it but it will be by my own free will and not because I need it.
A that's a huge difference.
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Whoa, You have a big heart. At least they called you for impeccable service.
Do not let any crypto or anything else destroy that bond.
Keep on steemin'
That's cool. It feels good to help someone out when you can. Like you said, because you want to and not have to. It does make a big difference! Thanks for the post!
O man, that scope monster is always there! Even when you least expect him! Great job on helping them though.
It's such a great term.
Very nice in telling like this because everyone should have their respective talents comrades ... @exyle
@exyle Mark you have a Big Heart and I know you would go out of your way to help any and all who ask for HELP.....The hardest thing I have learned to do finally in my Life is to say NO. When You can do that you will relieve the rest of the Stress that a ScopeMonster may cause you. I have always wanted to please people all my life and yes it does not always feel good to do that. The Clean Break from all of your old Customers is difficult but you know you need to do it...................
'Very genius, Much Professional!' I don't know why phrases like that always get me to laugh. I guess it isn't that great with sweat dripping from your face but st least they didn't care.
It is amazing how they have been a client of yours since 2008 and after all these years they have still stayed connected. I hate trawling through windows errors.
You are probably better at dealing with them compared to me but they still consume so much time and suck every bit of energy from you.
Once you resolve the error you don't get ecstatic and happy. You are just relieved that the torment is over.
Also is it just me or has there been some issues with Steemit. I recently did a post, I had some transaction error so I clicked 'post' again and another thread was produced. Others seem to be commenting on the problems as well. I hope they get resolved.
Have a great day @exyle! :)
I also like the doge meme talk :) There have been a few issues here and there. I noticed them too. But they seem to be resolved.
This is so recognizable. I once went on an intake at an prospect client. They wanted a website with a webapplication for a daycare centre for kids. The application 'only' had to hold all the information (a easy database). Both the ladies didn't had a clue of what they wanted, and for me at that point it was also not clear... Finally when I was completely finished it was a complete billing system with automatic mail and bill sending. For that moment an state of the art application, but a big scope-creeper.. And the sucker I am, I didn't want to put the ladies in huge costs, so it costed me a lot of time and for that time thus money.... So I've been there and know exactly what you mean... :)
Everyone that works in IT, has been hit by the Scope monster at least once!
You got that right... But in this kind of situations it is a kind of satisfying. :)
lol, Ive never heard that term before but completely recognise it...back in 1998 when i set up my IT support service , I walked the streets every day in my local town pushing leaflets with a list of my services and my mobile number through letterboxes. The jobs I used to hate back then were setting people up on the net, dial-up 33.6k modems were the order of the day and the time I spent on the phone with aol or virgin support..nightmare. Then just when i was about to leave....'you couldn't have a look at my printer could you' ? driver issues on the 'new' usb printers. Nightmare. I used to walk to most jobs back then and when I had enough cash, spent £500 on an old van....happy days :-) funny how sometimes a post brings back such similar and vivid memories!!
It's so recognizable!
"while you are here could you take a quick look..." (aka not charge me) at problem X. I think the term scoop monster covers all that perfectly.
exactly..at no extra cost lol..
lol. I got in to these kind of situations so Manny times. Since I’m a contractor and with so Manny clients it happens with everyone of them. But the only difference is that it’s still my job.
However, once you have your client, they for whatever reason become attached to you.
well it's great to see you are still helping your old clients even though you are not interested in this job anymore, i think helping old clients and keep old relations alive is a great course and it give so much inner happiness. wish you a fantastic week ahead friend! Stay blessed
Oh yes, I understand you perfectly, my friend, although you decided to live a different life now and distance yourself from the old work, but there are moments in life when you can not refuse very old acquaintances, this also happens to me, even if sometimes we get a problem from this, we still take a step toward the meeting. I think it is necessary for our inner balance! Thanks Mark