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Feel Lucky When You See The Warning Signs

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Happiness is excitement that has found a settling down place. But there is always a little corner that keeps flapping around. ~E.L. Konigsburg

 

 

 

 

 

Article by Wendy McCance

I had a day last week where everything just seemed to naturally fall into place.  I was offered a writing assignment, I got a call from a client about a home they were interested in and a few other things occurred that made me feel like all of my hard work was paying off.

That day last week had me floating on a cloud of happiness.  Finally, I could see my finances improving.  Finally, I could say all of the hard work was worth it.

Saturday, I drove to the house my client wanted to see.  I arrived ten minutes early and parked on the street to wait for them to show up.  Twenty-five minutes went by and not a client in sight.  No phone call and no car pulling up anywhere on the street.  I finally gave up and went home.

Sunday night, I got an email from the client.  All it said was, I waited for half an hour.  Nothing else was written.  I was upset.  I had waited for the client.  I had even gotten there a little early.  Why didn’t they call?  Why didn’t they reach out after the appointment on Saturday?  It was Sunday night and that was all they said?  I wrote back and said, I got to the home ten minutes early and then waited twenty-five minutes.  I’m sorry, but I think you need to find another realtor.


Now, I had never met this client in person.  This would have been our first meeting.  I would have been fine with a phone call cancelling or even an email later that day with an explanation about what had gone wrong.  I knew the moment that client tried to pin the blame on me that we would not be a good match.  Just give me some honesty as I would do for you and we’re good.

Monday I had a conflict of interest.  I had a last-minute meeting at the office overlapping plans I had made to meet with a business owner who wanted me to write some blog posts for them.  I didn’t cancel my appointment with the business owner because it was scheduled first.  Right before I walked out the door, I checked my email and LinkedIn.  Thank goodness I did.  The business owner had cancelled.  It was too late to go to my meeting at the office and so I ended up with two blown appointments.

The message from the business owner came in half an hour before we would have met up.  In the message, the owner apologized and asked what future days I had free so we could reschedule.  He also said that he would email me some topics and layouts for the writing assignments.  He ended the message saying I would receive the information shortly.  I passed over a personal email and phone number and waited.

Tuesday I wrote to the business owner and asked if he had trouble with my email or did he possibly change his mind.  He wrote back that, yes my email came back as undeliverable and that he would send out the information soon.  I rewrote my email and waited.

I have to admit, I was disappointed.  I threw out the email excuse hoping he would honestly mention what the hold up was.  Because we were writing back and forth, all I had to do was scroll down and affirm that I had written my email correctly.  I also had given him a phone number which he could have used to call if there had been a problem.

I still haven’t heard from the business owner.  I have spent much of the day feeling down about two situations that could have been great, but were both major letdowns.  Honestly, I don’t know what bothers me more, the loss of potential income or the lying.  Why does anyone even need to bother with a lie?  What is so bad about just saying why you need to cancel an appointment?   Really, it just doesn’t matter if you are feeling lazy and don’t want to get out of the house.  I would rather hear that for an answer.  I would have more respect for you knowing that you have enough class to be straight-forward.

What I have realized is that I should feel lucky that I saw the warning signs of possible deals that would have ended badly if I continued to pursue them. I might have continued to show up at homes, wrecking my day because of another no-show.  I could have spent the time to write some articles for the business owner and then would have had to worry about payment.

I have decided that I need to be grateful for not wasting more time and causing myself more grief.  It is a learning lesson and I must move on and forget about the disappointment.  I need to focus on continuing what I have worked so hard to accomplish.  I know more good times are still to come.

Wendy McCance

Wendy McCance

Wendy McCance is a Michigan based freelance writer and social media consultant. Wendy has gained attention as the founder of the popular blog Searching for the Happiness which can be viewed in 9 local papers online, including the Oakland Press. The combination of writing skills and social media knowledge is what makes Wendy such a powerhouse to work with. Stay tuned for opportunities to advertise, guest post and as always, have your questions answered.

To contact Wendy McCance about a writing or social media assignment, interview or speaking engagement, please email her at: [email protected]
Wendy McCance

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20 thoughts on “Feel Lucky When You See The Warning Signs”

  1. Well Wendy you know as you always do this to me. It is really scariest as all get go when… 1, 2, 3 & so on is in your face when finally you finally suck it up when people have been trying to get you to do so for way to long & BAM I finally refer to myself as a writer & am having the time of my life. It all started with the final nudge to get me where I am today. Nothing like just jumping in! thanks as always.

    Reply

      • I have never been so happy. The best part of everything is. This is the Holiday season Officially. I finally for the 1st time in waaaaayyyyyyy to long I am experiencing Thanksgiving. I am actually so grateful & thankful for all that is going on. I get to experience truly Thanksgiving as well as not feel gypped as far as Christmas & my Birthday are concerned & it is due to something called the simple things in life. Also be very careful for what you ask for as you just might get it.
        I got it because I was standing @ the tip of the high dive for so long & as always the answer to the ? is time.
        Happy Tuesday. Mine is exceptional.
        Peace & be well as always.

        Reply

  2. Wendy,

    This reminds me of a situation where I had a handful of people contact me regarding an ad that was posted for some things I was selling online. Everything that a potential buyer needed to know was in the ad. Needless to say, not one of the contacts followed through. After all the work organizing to put my items up for sale, it was quite a disappointment. Most times, it’s not about you, but them. Hang in there!

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  3. Hi Wendy, Not an AHA moment. Not by a long shot. Let’s face it. Those who offer a specific service, are usually taken for granted. The recipient does not think twice about being late for an appointment, missing one all together, etc. While residing in California, I was contacted by an agency that provided social services for substance abusers. The purpose, to create a state wide, vocational outreach to such individuals. I spent a week developing said program. Upon completion, I was told that they would contact me. Guess what, no contact was ever made . They ended up owing me big bucks. Did I collect? No such luck. there were no calls, no aplology, not even a thank you note. Live and learn. Blessings.

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    • That’s horrible. I guess I still live in the fantasy world of people treating each other kindly. I just don’t want to see the world any other way.

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  5. To me these thing smack of rudeness………….some people do not have the backbone to say they have changed their mind and try to make the other person the one at fault so they can feel better but it is rudeness short and sweet grow up be an adult and say you have changed your mind it isn’t a crime to do so…………..

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  6. Hi Wendy,
    I, honestly, do not comment on many blogs. Yours is one of them because your writing propels me to. You made me laugh or think - depending on how you look at it. About two months ago, we had appointments with some realtors. True story: our brakes went out in between appointments and I had to call two realtors to cancel appointments. My husband began making up a story about why we were canceling and I said, “Why don’t we just tell them that our brakes went out?” He told me that no one was going to believe that story. But it was the truth and that’s what I told them. So to answer your question: Sometimes people are afraid of being judged and/or what other people may think of them. If I make an appointment and then don’t feel like going, you might think xyz about me.

    I’m sorry that you experienced disappointments. You have such talent. Good things will happen for you. We went through a lot of hardship, especially last year (medically). Disappointments and hardships are good because the good things that follow are that much sweeter and our mind sets are that of gratitude. If it’s of any consolation, as long as you keep showing up, so will I. Have a great day!

    Karina

    P.S. I like the tweaking on your website.

    Reply

    • Thanks so much for your comment. It’s funny, I would have reacted so much differently if the client hadn’t tried to make it my fault. It was the accusation that they were there waiting and where was I that made me call it quits with them. By the way, even when a reason sounds like an excuse, most people can tell when someone is being sincere. I am flattered that you feel the impulse to comment on my blog and thrilled that you like the “tweaking” I did.. All the best. 🙂

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  7. It would be wonderful if everyone could just be upfront honest, but alas! People like to wriggle out of unpleasant confrontations. (I just went over the budget -or talked to the boss- and found out we can’t afford your services. Or I just don’t like your personality and don’t want to work with you.)

    Lately I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in stories for children: some protagonists may lie ‘as needed’ and it’s okay in the end. Their story hangs together or others aren’t upset even when they find out the truth. One series of books for teen girls is BAD for this; the two sisters lie whenever, as an excuse or to get out of something. How will this develop readers with scruples about honesty? In real life people hate being lied to and will dump you as a friend or romantic interest if you lie to them.

    One co-worker promised me a kitten from her mama cat’s litter and I went over to choose one, then called twice in the next few weeks to verify. Last time I asked she said, “We don’t have any more; we gave them all away.” In itself this was no problem, but she didn’t understand commitment; she’d promise anything, then not follow through. That got her fired in the end; she promised to be at work, also to take her aunt somewhere and the aunt’s need won out.

    As to the client who said she waited half an hour, nothing more, that’s extremely odd. I’d try to find out WHERE she waited. Sometimes a missing or wrong digit can result in serious confusion. Been there, done that; waited at the wrong mall door for half an hour, etc. And some people hate admitting that they made a mistake and/or got the number wrong. (By human nature we hate admitting WE were WRONG, period — but it feels good when we finally own up. 🙂 )

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  8. Two steps forward, one step back…you will still come out ahead in the end, so hang in there. And you’re right, it isn’t worth your energy to worry about what didn’t happen; you are doing all that you can to move forward, so just keep on keeping on. Cheers!

    Reply

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