It was a kind gesture that truly filled my heart with hope. Since then, I have not borrowed the Smiths’ mower. I’ve told them that I have a good mower, now. They asked me to continue using theirs on their lawn, and I agreed. Since then, I’ve mowed, weed-whacked and cleaned the grass from their property two times.
They thank me and tell me how great it looks … but they haven’t paid me. I’m trying to figure out a tactful way to ask them for payment. I value them as friends; they’re almost like family. Can you help me to find the words?
Unpaid: Judging by my mailbag, the act of asking for money you are owed for services rendered is one of the most uncomfortable situations people face. It is vital for freelancers (such as yourself) to establish a clear and confident payment policy.
The “Smiths” generously let you use their mower to mow their and other clients’ lawns. During that period, you didn’t charge them to mow their lawn. Now that this period has ended, you need to get them back on a payment schedule.
Contact them by email to say: “Thank you again for lending your mower when I needed it! This generous gesture helped to keep my business going, and I’m very grateful. However, now that I have replaced my mower, I’d like to get you back on a payment schedule. If you’d like me to continue to use your mower for your property, I’d be happy to extend a 20 percent discount or whatever discount you decide. With the discount, the fee for your property would be XX for each mowing and weed cleanup. If you don’t want me to use your mower, I’ll use my own. If so, the fee reverts to XX. Please let me know which you would prefer, and we’ll schedule your next mowing. With regards and much gratitude …”
The more transparent and professionally you behave in this area of your business, the better it will be for you and your clients. If so, I predict that your business, like the crabgrass in my own lawn, will continue to grow.
Dear Amy: I was on an Alaskan cruise in September. On Sept. 11 the ship made an announcement at about noon that we would have a minute of silence to commemorate 9/11. I was in the dining area. Within a few seconds there was dead silence among the hundreds of people there, many of which were probably not Americans.
At the table adjacent to me was a family (who were not speaking English) who continued to talk among themselves. I was tempted to walk over with an image of the World Trade Center on my phone to explain what was going on without speaking. However, I did not do anything but reverently bow my head as the minute passed. They continued to talk during the whole observance.Follow Google News
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