For those of you that don't know...I have a small in home footcare business.
Have had this exclusively for the past 6 1/2 years... traveling to homes business.
Yesterday on my home answering machine was a message and I returned her called thinking it was a new client.
Wrong.
It was a nurse getting ready to go thru certification in foot care.
Yikes!
Wanted to talk about my business...she really threw me for a loop.
She even had the gall to ask me for some clients if I had too much work!
THat is like asking for money right! WHat is up with that?
I could not sleep last night much because the conversation played continually thru my head.
and today is the same thing.
I am obcessing over this....
did I say too much, she heard about me thru a client of mine, is that client going to leave me and go to her, am I doing all that I should be doing , will she charge less than I , will I lose my business, will she report me to the board for not being "certified", will I lose my license???
I think I will take some more Geodon to help quiet my brain....
My hubby says to just not think about it, there is nothing that I can do about it. It was inevitable that someday there would be someone else doing what I do...in fact I told her that this town is big enough for the both of us.
I was very friendly and upbeat to her....
I still can't imagine me calling my compitition but then again I am not real driven either.
Hopefully the geodon turns off my brain...must get back to work.
bizi

bizi...competition can be a good thing. it can spread the word faster about what you do. you also have a HUGE edge. you have been in the business for 6 1/2 years!!

now who do you think somebody would rather go to?

it might make you think of things to do that you haven't been doing. maybe get in touch with old clients. send a thank you letter to all and give some type of incentive for referrals?

added:

have you thought of expanding? maybe this lady would make a good employee?
i know this threw you for a loop. i HATE getting calls like this out of the blue. ((((hugs))))

I really liked the suggestion of getting in contact with all your customers via mail with some sweet little note about your services....
I wouldnt sweat it because she can't beat your winning personality....also I would much prefer somebody with a lot of experience than a newbie even if it cost a bit more....It is really delicate work and feet are so sensitive.
I would be upset too though but I think that is just normal....
the way you described her, she sounds far from gentle and I would really be ticked off big time. I think she had a lot of nerve. Just from her manner I would never want her to touch my feet.
Bobby

Bizi,

I liked what Curious said. In my words, turn the lemon into the lemonade.


befuddled2

Thankfully the geodon helped.
My resting heart rate was 114 beats per minute!
way too high.
I am so easily upset...
it is still 100 bpm....
I think a mud slide is calling...I already ate a handful of chocolates
You know you are right...I should send them something like a letter of appreciation, an acknowlegement of some sort...thanks for the idea and support you guys.
bizi

My hubby says I should franchise the business...I am such a small business and like having only me to worry about and the liability can never be deligated...it would be my name for them to sue and I am afraid...am afraid to grow...I like the size that I am have been getting a few more clients each year...I only see about 2-3 people a day...that is all I can manage...most people only see the numbers and say why can't I see 5 people a day? I don't like stress or being rushed...and My clients do't like to be rushed.
and my advanced planner only allows me to actually book 3 people for each day so I would have to switch planners and I have been using this same daytimer planner for 10 years! and it fits neatly in my purse.
She is already a cosmetologist working in a salon for the past 26 years with her own list of clientel, don't know how long she has been a nurse...a couple of years??? and figured out that she doesn't want to work in the hospital anymore, wants to be her own boss.
I still can't believe that she wanted me to give her some of my clients!
ya know when I think about it a nail tech was creating her business a few years ago and called me asking the same thing...maybe that is a southern thing...anyway
blah blah blah
bizi

now bizi...you can really reduce your stress level by sharing that mudslide and choccy.

everything will be ok. i really see this as a big opportunity for you.

thanks curious...
ya know
I like being this size it keeps me busy enough and not overwhelmed with new clients...it is perfect for me...any time I leave on a vacation I come back to a bunch of calls and that stresses me. So if I advertise it would jsut stress me out with more work than I can handle.
I know.... most businesses want to grow...
I just want to stay the same size.

Someday...I do know that my business could be sold if we ever had to leave, not sure how I would do that.
When we left arizona, I gave my business to a female podiatrist who was expanding her business. I did not want to leave my clients hanging.
Now there are foot care nurses all over the country.
Someday...I really should go thru the training and get certified....
it is a fear.
bizi

DON'T WORRY ABOUT TAKING ON ANY NEW CLIENTS AND EXPANDING YOUR DAY WITH MORE APPOINTMENTS. STRESS IS A KILLER FOR US. I don't understand about certification...i thought being a nurse was enough....i don't know how stressful it is to get certification. is it something you really have to worry about or just something nice to have added to your name...
I wouldn't make any apologies for that woman...she sounds like an undesirable person.....I really don't think she is competition....people gravitate towards kind people .....nobody is kinder than you...
Bobby

Bizi

Honestly I believe that any client you have will stay with you. I can't see them leaving. I believe they will stay because they like the way they are treated. So I would quit worrying. If anything if you advertised and wanted more clients each of your present clients could locate another client for you.

Donna

I think you will be just fine. A lot of good idea's have been brought up here too.

You aren't going to lose your clients, once people like you and how you treat them and what you charge, they aren't going anywhere.

Enjoy that mudslide, sounds real good!

The nerve of some people just amazes me. I wouldn't talk to her anymore, the less she knows the better.

Hugs, Nikko