Being in the profession of marketing, I deal with
an unimaginable number of people every day. Not that I’m complaining; but it’s
just not very healthy for someone who could spend hours without talking to
anyone, sitting by the window at home doing nothing.
I miss the window though. Very badly. And the
evening cup of chai. And
the TV. Oh, and the couch!! *Sigh*
But it’s not as bad as it sounds. In fact, it’s a
lot like blind-dating. My profession. The client, however, is the other
blind-half in this case. 20 mails and 51 telephonic conversations later comes
the big meet. Taadaa!
Amazes me how much the two resemble.
The first look at the client you have been
talking to for ages and having mentally guessed his age, the thoughts start
sounding something like ”..cute! ..just a few years older than me.. :)” Payoff!
*Grins*
Now the meeting begins and you’d want everything
perfect (in this case the presentation), would want to make that lasting
impression knowing he has the currency to spend and help you achieve your sales
target. All decked up, best of the words showered and that painful jaw-breaking
smile. Usually works.
Besides, there’s a wide and ever-increasing
variety of clients- the never-smiling ones, the always-laughing ones- joke or
no joke..irrespective, the busy ones, the question banks, the I’ll-ask-my-boss
ones and the flirtatious lot (just to bridge the whatever little differences
the two had).
The flirting client, being the creepiest of all
hits your moral side hard. Should you flirt back or risk losing a client?! To
my relief it’s not very open yet. It’s all very subtle, yet very strong.
Wonderfully discrete. Like Carrie Bradshaw of SATC fame rightly points out, a
third person would never really know what’s going on between the two individuals. These
vibes, the interest, the respect (if exists) can all be sensed; and we don’t
need Hogwarts to train us here.
Solution? You could always act dumb and laugh off
as he stares at you or act like the other busy clients and leave. Simple.
The hardest to deal with are the Question Banks.
The inquisitive ones. They have doubts about every word that you utter and have
their eyes of suspicion on you..always. Just like your over-possessive
ex-boyfriend. These are the kind of clients every boss would love to hire.
Nothing less than perfection.
My favourite of all, however, is the
‘always-laughing one’- the round bellied old man. The bald patch and the
glasses remind me of my long forgotten uncle. They treat you like their
daughters, asking you about your career and your job. Sweet. Long live such
clients!
But there had been times when I was terrified of
meetings and cursed my job. I hated the travelling! But then, the
money-carrying blind-half won’t show the generosity to drop in at your
workplace just because you hate travelling. He needs you, true. But you need
him more. Fair :\
Today, 3 months into this madness and my discovery
of newer genres continue..
