thank you mr. dawson! sadly, sometimes we're straddled with clients who don't care about the relationship as much as they do the bottom line and crash deadlines. but this does remind us to look for, secure and serve the kind of clients who do value relationships. sometimes we latch on to the less desirable or less deserving because we allow ourselves to be reduced to the "grin and bill it mentality". nice, inspiring piece.

when i was young, i lived on a farm that grew acres and acres of asparagus. we'd take some to the 'avion' travel trailer convention at the local fair grounds. we'd set up a little shop and everyone clamored for fresh asparagus. i remember carefully laying out 3 pounds on the scale. removing one fat one replacing it with a skinnier one...finally my dad saidl, "let me show you how it's done". he grabbed about 3 pounds, threw it on the scales and then grabbed a few extra pieces and tossed them on as well. "now THAT'S 3 pounds", he said. give them more than they bargained for and they'll be back was his message to me. that's why i was always the one working until midnight, telling everyone "no problem" when they asked if i could get the job done. never said maybe or i'll try. always said 'no problem' then did whatever it took to get the job done. thanks again old friend.