How to deal with clients part one

The Art and Science of working with the general public

“Climb Shiba, Climb!”

I had a PhD in working with and dealing with clients. Although I stumble at times, I am blessed with the skills and natural ability to meet people where they are at.

My customer experience knows no bounds - I have had over 30 different jobs, starting when I was twelve as a soccer linesman and, eventually, referee. You quickly learn the levels of shit you should put up with when dealing with soccer parents. I was lucky to have a good support system of higher ups who I could ask questions to afterwards about what levels of crap I should be taking as a 14 year old referee to eight year old soccer games.

“You make a call, you stand by it.”

“No one should be berating you, it is eight year old rec league. Get the names if they go nuts, I’ll talk to them.”

Around this time, I became a caddy at the local country club. Different clientele from the rec leagues. These were PROFESSIONALS, and I learned that professionals want a professional. I hustled. I would get to their ball much before they would, which occasionally left me open to being TOO far ahead of the group and having to duck an errand shot or two.

I rose from “B” caddy to Honor Caddy, something I still take pride in. I became the regular caddy to someone who routinely won the Club Championship. We developed a fun relationship. When he’d hit a shot that needed to go farther, he’d yell “climb, shiba, climb!” Eventually, I would let his shot fall short, take his club, then dead pan and say “next time, you should hit it farther.”