So crazy it might actually work: A business relationship stress test.
So, I don't know how and why, but I just remembered some silly romance movie I saw a couple of years ago. A cliche romance story with an interesting twist. Some girl wanted to check how strong her boyfriend's love was. So, she "faked" a breakup. This is what happens in the movies. Both of them realized how strong their love was. So, they lived happily ever after. What's the moral of this story? This couple performed a successful stress test of their romantic relationship. They were happy with the results. So, my idea is to do something similar with a business relationship. Can it be done?
I'm not sure. I haven't tried it yet. Thought it is better to evaluate it carefully first. Why? Well, I think it goes without saying that this is a risky operation. Life isn't a movie. You can try simulating a "breakup" with your client, but if he takes it too seriously, then you may ruin your business relationship. So, it's a tricky thing to accomplish successfully. On the other hand, if you succeed, and you smoothly and thoughtfully test the quality of your business relationship, somehow, then you got yourself a long-term loyal client.
So, I have been thinking to do the following. I will write an email to my existing clients who aren't quite sure whether or not they will continue to work with me in 2017. I will say something like that I can't provide my service in the next year for some reason. If a client says, OK that's perfectly fine with me, then I will know what to expect. If a client says, wait, hold on, what's going on, does it really have to be this way, then I will say that I realized that this particular client is important for me and that we will go on with our business as usual.
I'm aware of the risks, but I would really like to do it. I'm thinking that's worth a try. What do you think? The clients I'm going to lose as a result of this stress test, are the ones I would probably lose, sooner or later. The ones to stick with me would be the ones worthy of my time and attention. You may say and ask, isn't it simpler and better just to ask a simple question: do you plan to go on working with me in 2017? Well, to tell you the truth I already tried that for a business year 2015/2016. What happened? No one said explicitly no. They were all like, I don't know, we will see. It's not entirely up to me. And, the same old blah blah.
I think it's a good idea to discuss this new approach with some of you guys here before I launch full scale. Once I send this email I plan to write, there's no way back. I have to go on with it till the end. I have some second thoughts about it, of course. What if I lose some good clients who simply don't like these stress tests in any form? But then again, what if I have a clear situation at the beginning of the new business year for the first time? Isn't it worth a risk?