clients who are best avoided #2

Cartoon on the back of a business card from gaping void.

I don't want to give you the wrong impression here, because more often than not I become great friends with the people I work for. But there are always the exceptions. And, if only we could spot them beforehand, there are usually some giveaway signs. Like the personalised-number-plate men that I mentioned last week.

Number two on my list is the client who finds it necessary to introduce himself with the words "I used to be...". In my time I've had "I used to be at The Partners", "I used to be at Sky TV", "I used to be a racing driver" (yes, really)... and countless others. Strange the people who define themselves by the job they once did, and usually some time ago as well. It reminds me of the line from the Bolton ticket man in the Monty Python parrot sketch - "I don't have to do this job you know. I'm a qualified brain surgeon. I only do this job because I like being my own boss."

But at the very top (or maybe it's the bottom) of the list of clients to be avoided is the one that declares "I used to be a designer".

Avoid them if you can.

Comments

[Richard]

We've got one of those! If only you'd written that a few months ago.

[David Airey :: Creative Design ::]

It's quite amazing how many people used to be a designer.

[Picky Mick]

Hey, wait a minute...I really used to be a designer!