The customer who taught me to listen in my own shop
Last spring in Columbus, a homeowner came in with a sketch of a floating shelf unit, and within 2 minutes I was already explaining why her measurements were off without really hearing what she wanted. She looked at me and said, "I've built two kitchens on my own, I just need a partner for the finish work, not a lecture." Have you had a client pull you back to reality like that, and did it change how you talk to people at the counter?
Yeah that hits close to home. I did the same thing to a guy last summer who came in with a trailer rehab plan, cut him off mid sentence to tell him his tongue weight was gonna be wrong. Turns out he'd rebuilt three of them already. Now I just ask "what are you trying to end up with?" before I open my mouth about anything. Takes me ten extra seconds and saves me from looking like a know it all. That lady did you a favor, honestly.