Sign Pros Need Not Be Perfect

THERE’S HARDLY ANYTHING more annoying than a “know it all” who always has a better perspective than yours, a stronger track record, a more successful project, a faster piece of equipment, a professional staff, and who tries to tell you how to run your business.

Oh, wait a minute. Is that how I sound to you in these signshop advice columns? Do as I say, not as I do? Listen to me because I have all the answers?

If so, that is decidedly not the vibe I was going after.

I’m vibing on offering a different perspective that might help you make more money. (BTW, can you tell I have Millennial children who have instructed me that “vibe” is now also a verb?)

I was considering that fact this morning at my shop, thinking that I should have a better piece of equipment for a project I am bidding on, that I need to look into more effective streamlining of some of my processes, and that we really need to work on a direct mail marketing piece.

Doctor, heal thyself.

So, mea culpa, I admit that, no, I do not, in fact, know it all. Or rather, I might actually know a lot, but I certainly don’t do it all.

I’m a firm believer in “perfect is the enemy of good enough” and that it is possible to get stuck in a quagmire of indecision when struggling for perfection in all things.

So, while I loudly proclaim that I don’t do everything right, I equally vociferously shout that you have to…

Do These Things Right Every Time!

1. Do what you say you are going to do. Promise a deadline? Meet it. Make an appointment? Show up on time. Quote a particular price? Charge it. Nothing will lose you respect and business in the sign world faster than messing with your customers’ trust.
2. Provide a quality product. When an order goes out your door, make sure you are proud of how it looks.
3. Show you care. Don’t make your clients feel like they are a burden on your time. Teach your team some empathy and people skills.

After binge-watching the final season of Manifest (don’t judge), I’m trying to forgive myself, like Micky does, when I don’t do everything as right as it should be — spoiler alert! I’m going to be happy if I can get these three biggies right all of the time, and work on getting as much else as right as I can make it.