Paul The Programmer

Its hard to do, perfection. Infact, if you wait for it, you'll likely never stop waiting. So why do we want perfection in the first place?

• Is it to satisfy our customers wants?
• Is it to make sure we deliver precisely what they want?
• To make sure the design achieves what we expected ?
• Because we want to ensure the client was more than satisfied with the product, right?
• To add every conceivable additional service, that you knew would be needed from the start.
• We want to make the ordering process and delivery service exactly what every customer wants.
• Or is it that your frightenned customers will be turned off by a less that perfect product.

How do you know perfection is required,or even desired? Maybe its better to get the product out earlier and allow the client to play with the product, even to break it.

This feedback is invaluable, and you'll never get that waiting for perfection.

Ask yourself what an agent does, is it worth it?

Are they putting you into contact with new customers or just trying to make a sale?

Are they matching your skills with the perfect client or are they gathering your CV and playing a numbers game with your career?

Do they help you build a community of exceptional followers of your work or keep you as an anonymous resource?

Do they profit share with you or with themselves?

Do they help you to make cost savings or are they making more than you?

The internet changes the playing field. Agents no longer have the monopoly on potential clients and rarely do they help you network with other contractors, other agents or those likely to help you.

So why use an average agent? If your agent isn?t doing these things for you, ask yourself what are they doing.

Don't you prefer working with clients who like to work with you?

If you're carrying out work at a client site, maybe amongst a group of employees, here are some tips that will move you ahead of the pack and get you seen as a valued member or the team, rather than an unwanted intruder into the employees' inner sanctum.

1. Make them a coffee. Nothing says "I'm on your level" more than offering to make/buy someone a coffee. Try it, you'll see. It's like saying that you have no problem getting your proverbial hands dirty; a little humility is a good thing.

2. Offering help. If someone is struggling, and you know the solution, offer to help. Don't be frightened to lend a hand. Most likely the person will thank you for it. You've also proven that you don't mind sharing your knowledge.

3. Suggesting improvements. If you see something that could be improved, take a note of it and at an opportune moment, bring it up and explain how your solution might bring some extra value for the team and the benefit to the client. Being a team player bills you as a values resource.

4. Build relationships. Always say hello to the receptionist, and mean it. Smile, and mean it. Ask them some questions, and mean it. Really listen to their answers. Ask them to introduce you to people in the company you don't already know and do the same pattern. You'll learn a lot about the business, and build a strong foundation with the organisation. Be sincere, your wallet will value you forever.

5. Be outstanding. Research, and show statistics that support your work, this gives you and the people around you confidence. Follow this up by developing powerful presentations using imagery, rather than boring, verbose PowerPoint slides. Give your clients all the whistles they expect and deliver the flutes they didn't. Don't be afraid to show how exceptional you are.

After all, it's the exceptional that's memorable.

It’s high, very high. Perhaps looking up you'd be forgiven for thinking that it can’t be climbed. Maybe you shouldn’t even try? Why bother, what’s the point?