I showed up at the wrong client’s house today. Let me lay out the situation so that I don’t look like a total buffoon. I do take total responsibility for the error, but my reasoning is just…at least in my own mind.
Yesterday, I received a panic call from one of my clients on my voice mail. When I returned the call, the husband answered so I asked for his wife (who had called originally). She picked up the extension line in their home and now both were on the phone talking to each other and I could barely hear either one of them. In the garbled conversation, I determined that they desperately needed help and I informed them that I could squeeze them between two of my already scheduled appointments that were near by their home.
After I hung up, I jotted down their name in my trusty Treo 650; which automatically links me to their phone number and address. Here’s what was rolling around in my brain at the time: Mrs. Blank and Mr. Blank are having trouble with their Internet and wireless connections to their laptop and I can make a quick stop by their home between two of my clients today. My mind quickly calculated the distance and drive time between the three stops. I determined, that though tight, the schedule could work.
Today rolls around and I drive to Mr. And Mrs. Blank’s (I’m omitting real names) home. I cheerfully ring the door bell, and Mrs. Blank2 opens the door and stares at me with some bewilderment on her face. I walk in and the brief conversation went like this:
Mrs. Blank2: "It’s nice to see you. Why are you here?"
I said, "You called me yesterday."
She stated, "I did not call you."
I responded, perplexed that she would forget, "Yes, I talked with you and your husband about your Internet connection."
"No. I did not call you. I think I would have remembered if I called you about the computer".
Now I’m really getting flummoxed and pull out my Treo 650 and gaze down at the name on my schedule: Mrs. Blank. I look up and realize that I am not only standing in Mrs. Blank2’s home, but looking directly at Mrs. Blank 2 and trying to convince her that she is Mrs. Blank. I’m sure my face turned about 14 shades or crimson. I immediately apologized for my meat-headedness and tried to explain what had happened.
Mrs. Blank2 was very gracious and patted me on the back in a "wow, this guy has problems" kind of way. We exchanged pleasantries and I slithered back to my truck thinking what a dolt I am.
I’ve mistakenly written down addresses and knocked on a few wrong doors looking for new clients, but this was the first time in more than 10 years of making house and business calls that I actually convinced myself that I was going to the right home when indeed I was not.
I eventually arrived at Mrs. Blank’s home and got them out of their jam…never informing them of the events leading up to my arrival.
To my defense, both customers first name’s are Mary.
