ian
i'll take that as a compliment but i think if you guys think back to when you first started out, you might just see the same person.
the good thing about being new to the business is you think more like a customer than a carpet cleaner, something that your stripped of as time goes by.
and i must admit, the more i learn about the industry, the more i advertise like a carpet cleaner instead of a customer.
i think my next advert will be designed by my next friendly customer. now theres a thought.
the markets have given me confidence in dealing with people on a one to one basis. believe it or not i was quite a shy person 15 years ago and still retain some of that shyness now. in the business i was in, 50% was dealing with second hand goods and buying from customers on the stall so i also learnt how to haggle. i also learnt how to keep warm in winter, i certainly don't miss that bit, but i do miss the banter. if tesco and asda go bust, i'd go back cos its a fantastic life but retail at the moment has been crushed by these greedy giants and they won't stop till there selling everything. including carpet cleaning.
derek