Building lasting client relationships depends heavily on how they start out.  Otherwise, you’re forced to do things “The Hard Way”.

This doesn’t mean that a business relationship that begins out of sync can’t be corrected, because sometimes it can. But why handicap yourself at the outset?  Much better is to spend the time making sure that both of you are crystal clear about what’s expected and what will be done.  Your odds of creating a lasting relationship go way up when you take the time to clarify expectations on the front end.

Doing the work daily is hard enough; doing the wrong work, not enough work, or substandard work all lead to stress and disappointment. There’s a better way:

1. Begin by establishing Crystal Clear Expectations. 
2. Provide highly Responsive Service. Put simply: Do what you say you’re going to do, when you’re going to do it. 
3. Communicate relentlessly about what’s been done and what’s planned ahead.

In a service business, you have three steps to reach two results: There’s The Winning Way; then there’s The Hard Way. The choice is yours!