A note arrives at my front door, passed along by anonymous go-betweens.
“Alex, I don’t want to go out with you anymore. We’re over.”
No reason – and as I scan recent memories, no clues. Sara certainly happy to kiss me two nights earlier.
Dumped. My first girlfriend. A gut punch that leaves me dazed and confused.
And then an upwelling of feelings, that as a teenage male is almost overwhelming. Teary, upset, angry, hurt. I have no roadmap for this emotional turmoil.
A memory that brings a wry smile to my face as I listen to Jonathan today:
“I’ve lost a few clients recently, I guess it’s just part of the business cycle…” and his voice trails off.
I hear the undertone of hurt, and a tinge of bitterness.
As service providers we have all devoted hours to the wellbeing of our clients. Then to be spurned, often without warning, hurts.
But it is the ones who have thrived under our care that cut deep.
For Jonathan, it is David.
“David came to me when he first started. We got his business registered, properly structured, and sorted out his taxes. Even introduced him to his first two clients.
We have been there with him shoulder to shoulder. He now has a team of twelve, and out of the blue – has left us for a Sydney firm.
‘They can take us to the next level’ he says… What does that even mean?”
I sit still, which is hard.
After a sufficient pause, “Well, how are you going to replace the clients that have left?”
Silence.
His unsaid answer – “business as usual” and cross fingers that referrals will turn up...
Hope springs eternal; but referrals are haphazard, and Jonathan does nil marketing or business development. His real safety buffer, consistent activity – focussed, clear and building a future client pipeline – is missing.