A client in Phoenix told me to stop saying 'just' in emails

I was giving them a quote for a new floor and wrote 'it's just a small patch job' in an email. They called me and said, 'Call it what it is. It's a repair. Saying 'just' makes your work sound small and cheap.' That stuck with me. I started checking my old emails and saw I did it all the time. Now I'm trying to be more direct about what I actually do. Has anyone else had a client point out a small habit that changed how you talk about your work?

3 comments

3 Comments

alice_allen57d ago

Makes you sound less confident in your own pricing.

rowan_barnes7d ago

Oh man, that reminds me of a client who kept asking if I was "sure" the price was right for a deep clean. I'd say "it's probably about four hours" and she'd get all nervous. Started just saying "it takes four hours" and she booked it right away. The way you phrase things really does change how people hear you.

richard_young807d ago

Ever catch yourself using "probably" or "maybe" when you're actually sure about something? I had a boss tell me my constant "I think we should" made my ideas sound weak, like I was guessing instead of knowing. Now I force myself to say "we should" or "we can," and it feels totally different.