In life, there are particular experiences that stay with us no matter what. When I was younger, everytime my dad sent me to do a chore I disliked, I’d do whatever it is in anger, not minding the turnout, just so I’ll be free. My dad however, would always call me back saying ‘Oluchukwu, anything that is what doing at all, is worth doing well. Go and do that thing again.’
Hearing that, anger would surge to my throat, and frustration will have me breathing so deeply, you’d think I was about to burst. But since I couldn’t refuse the errand, I’d go back to do it again, and this time, I’d make sure it’s perfect. The thought of doing it the third time, was too much for me to bear I guess. With time, I normalized doing it properly at first try, just so I didn’t go back to redo that job.
Fast forward to growing up, I’ve met different individuals with different personalities, and I’ve offered services to a number of these people. Frequently utilizing this trait every time someone says something out of place, and the urge to retaliate using my services starts to form. On Monday, I happened to be offering services to this lady I usually typed and edited for. She had brought a job as usual, and since we were already familiar, she explained what she wanted on the phone call, and I was about telling her how she was going to get the document across to me, when her partner, decided to butt in.
I hadn’t even finished explaining, when he told us both not to worry, that he knew how to do it. I decided to trust his judgement, after all I didn’t know the extent to which he knew my job. He tried sending the file, and instead of sending it as a document, he opened the document, copied its contents, and pasted it on watsapp just like that. Pasting it on watsapp was the least of my problems when I realized that all the editing, and stylings the original file came with, had been cleared due to watsapp’s limited styling.
I’d never been so irritated by these know-it-alls, like I’d been at that moment. I had to call the lady back, to let her know he’d sent the wrong thing, and so I would guide her on how to send it properly. I started by explaining how the end-result won’t be satisfying, if I decided to go with what he’d sent. And you know what this man muttered in the background? He said ‘Excuses! Simple thing I would do now now’. Oh boy! I saw red.
I couldn’t even talk back because I automatically go mute when I’m angry. So I just calmly continued guiding the lady on sending the documents, and continued my work. I was fuming, I didn’t know how to handle it. If he knew the work was so easy, why didn’t he just do it himself, rather than let his partner come to me.
It’s been a while since I got so angry, and I didn’t know how to handle it. I thought whether I should get back at him, by altering his partners work, so he’ll get that chance to prove that he could do it. But I remembered how my dad used to punish me, for doing tasks like they didn’t matter, and I just couldn’t. Besides, I was only pushing away a good customer if I followed that through.
Eventually, I got over it. It took me hours to do so, seeing how it’s currently 12:20am, and I can now smile freely. Dealing with individuals with nasty personalities is one skill i admire in business owners. It’s not easy going about your daily duties, after suppressing the urge to beat someone blue black, for wagging their tongues carelessly.
Cheers to all the customer service representatives who have day-to-day interactions with these people. They’re the real heroes, when it comes to businesses cause customers can be so mean.
Thanks for reading.
Unsourced image is mine.