Customer Kaleidoscope

One thing I dreaded when I was younger was a job where I had to do the same thing over and over again surrounded by the same people day in and day out. Even if the work was varied, but I was stuck in an office all day working with the same people without change minus the few who would be hired or fired throughout the year, I didn’t want it. I couldn’t see myself in such a place. I never dwelt on it too much, but it was always at the back of my mind. Looking back at the 21 years I’ve been in business as a painting contractor, I feel blessed with the opportunities I have had to meet people from all walks of life. The work is similar on a day to day basis, yet it varies from job to job. Each day builds on the last, many processes are the same job to job; but every house is different and has its own character or lack thereof. Some are older and the history can be felt just upon walking into the house. There are others that have a unique feel based on the people who live there. Others are modern and open and airy while others are new and lack the “lived in” feel. So the worksites are varied even though the essence of the work stays the same.

What really sets my job apart and brings me satisfaction are the people I meet who become my customers that I converse with. They are the real bread and butter of my job so to speak. I have been lucky enough to meet successful entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors, billionaire investment bankers as well as professors, retired couples who have traveled the world, young families just starting out, immigrants, and a whole kaleidoscope of other individuals. I’ve heard their life stories, their struggles, their dreams, the reasons behind the way they live, their ex-husbands, recently deceased spouses, children, grand-children, and many more details that paint a true picture of who they are. I’ve learned a lot from them, and they have made me a better person because of it. I feel that I have become more well-rounded over the years just by asking questions and getting to know my customers. They have informed me, inspired me, taught me, and helped me grow my business. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

But the thing I love most about my customers is the stories they tell. Its like reading a book in real life, and I’ve found that most people will gladly tell you all about themselves if they are asked a few questions. How better to learn how to navigate our own lives than by hearing how others navigate theirs. In every story I hear, there are tidbits that I can take with me and utilize in my own life. Whether it is how they deal with a certain type of individual or a scenario that they confronted with, I try and take something away from every customer I listen to, some little bit of knowledge that I can curate and use myself. I don’t know that I would get the same life experience if I was stuck in an office all day or working with the same individuals over and over again. I feel like things would get a bit stale and boring, but that is me. If you want to learn from others, strike up a conversation with a stranger, get to now about them and their background, you never know when it might help you navigate your own life. Dig deep into the wonder of humanity, the kaleidoscope that has so much to offer.