Avoiding Bad Customers
By: Trish Thomas, Owner of Akamai Consulting

Sometimes your instinct is to land every customer at all costs. Many professionals spend an enormous amount of time and effort pursuing prospects. Once you’ve taken the energy to track down the decision-maker, make follow up calls, write contracts and attend meetings – it can be hard to pass on a customer. But not every prospect is really a good candidate for taking your career or business forward. In fact, some of them can be detrimental to both your mental health and bottom line!  

Everyone can think of a few nightmare customers they’ve had to deal with. If you watch for early warning signs, you can often identify problems before they ever get the chance to hire you or do business with your company. Learn the clues to spot prospects who should never become customers...

• More from the February 2008 Issue on Avoiding Bad Customers...

Read a brief review of this tried and true guide to career changes and job hunting - What Color is Your Parachute?

Finding a job today presents unique challenges that did not exist a decade ago.  That's why Richard Nelson Bolles' acclaimed job hunter's bible, " What Color is Your Parachute?" is so relevant. This common sense little book encourages you to implement time tested as well as new strategies in finding meaningful employment.