Business Concessions

I am mother of two little girls. They are 5 and 17 months old. I’ve made some serious business concessions due to this. The most notable is my practice does not provide phone work. I state this very clearly during the first conversation with any potential client. I explain clearly and kindly that if their business requires customer calls, I cannot do the job. It’s not because my children are ill tempered or cry too much…it’s the laughter that makes me look utterly unprofessional if I’m on the phone.

My 17 month old daughter laughs for hours on end. She finds everything in our house vastly amusing, from the dogs to the couch to the draperies. Her voice travels throughout the house. Even if she is in the far back bedroom and I’m in my office located at the front of the house the light tinkling of her laughter drifts around the corners and down the hallway through closed doors and right to the mouthpiece of the phone.

The first time I “hushed” her for laughing; I stopped in my tracks and realized a little priority check was in order.

It’s one thing to gently “sssssh” a baby that’s had attention and love and games and food and everything else and is just being a little crabby. But to quash a child’s laughter just isn’t my parenting style. As a result I had to change the way I do business.

I still make phone calls now and then, but my clients are well aware that the person I’m calling has no problem hearing children playing in the background. I make sure to warn them every time by saying, “Please remember, my five month old can be very unpredictable and although she’s asleep now that does not mean she will sleep through the entire phone call. If you hear her cry it will only be until I can pick her up and soothe her. This generally takes less than fifteen seconds.”

My honesty coupled with my client’s communication with their clients means there’s never been a problem. If there was one, I know my client would have my back.

Having clients that communicate and clearly listen when you state your boundaries can be a real relief.