Tuesday, April 8, 2008

The Last Minute Specialists

The day was going pretty well, so well in fact that I was enjoying the morning. I was so free that I could sit back with a nice steaming mug of coffee and just blog all day and even work on some tags and memes that I've been hoarding away in my meme cabinet. But somehow I knew it wouldn't last too long. And true to form, it didn't. There I was in the midst of doing this particular tag when I get a buzz on my phone:

'Nick, call for you line 1 from Mr. Xyz.'

Hmmm ... Mr. Xyz is one of my clients in the banking industry. And whenever he calls, it can never be good news. So I pick up the phone and cautiously say hello to Mr. Xyz. And he cheerfully says:

'Nick, how are you? It's been a while since I called you.'

Now, that wasn't really true cos he called me just yesterday morning and judging from the tone of his voice I knew this wasn't a social call. All the senses in my body decided to go on high alert. So I politely ask him how I may help him. He goes:

'Aiyah Nick, ah. We got this event that we need to do and I need your help.'

Ok, I say, no problem, I can do that. But I'm still very cautious and am waiting for the other shoe to drop. So I ask him when is the event and what's it all about. That's when the other shoe decides to drop.

'Aiyoo, you know us la Nick, the event is Thursday la. And we need things up by tomorrow night. Still a lot of time right?'

A lot of time my smelly foot! My eyes almost pop out of its sockets and in a barely controlled rage I say:

'Thursday? This Thursday? Today is Tuesday you know, and tomorrow is Wednesday and then it's Thursday. That's like 2 days away Mr. Xyz!'

I knew the day was going just a bit too good to be true. And he replies:

'I know, but what to do. I know you can do it one, your company the last minute specialists what!'

At this point I feel like just hanging up the phone but then my boss would strangle me cos they are one of our main clients as well. I don't actually blame him for presuming that we can get things done in such a short time. It's also partly my fault cos I tend to actually agree to do last minute jobs for them when everyone else doesn't. I take a deep breath and ask him the details for the event and what he needs done and get myself settled in for a long 2 days!

And after getting the brief from him, I find out it's a campaign to promote their new hire purchase product at this mall and I'm going to need to scramble and come up with some concepts and arrange some trade show booths, backdrops and a couple of banner stands for them. And I am cutting it really close by agreeing to do this for them. But if I refuse, they'll just go harass some other agency and I don't want them doing that. I want my company to be the first company they think of when they need work done.

The good thing is, that these days, even with the last minute deadline I'm relieved that there are a host of suppliers out there where I can get all this custom made exhibition stuff at a moments notice. People like Camelback Displays are lifesavers at times like these. They provide the complete range of exhibition booths of the easy to assemble Pipe and Drape kind with printable table skirts that you can customize with your company's logo or branding.

Back in the old days, I wold have practically pulled my hair out trying to accomodate a 2 day deadline. I'd probably at least need a minimum of 7-10 days, nothing less. And at least 6 whole days of sleepless nights would follow suit. Ok, I'd better get out of here and start working on that job instead of sitting here and blogging the rest of the day away. But it's sooooo hard to pull myself away from my blog though. Maybe just a few minutes more ... LOL!

30 comments:

  1. Ohhh.. Just because they're the last minute clients that makes you guys the last minute specialists is it?? hahahah..

    Oh well, I'm sure you can do it! Good luck! :)

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  2. Argh.. I hate last minute assignments!! it drives me crazy and makes me drink coffee - which I don't normally drink!

    Anyway, good luck Nick. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! xD

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  3. Hi Nick, today at 4:50 pm, two university students came to my office requesting for an env exhibition tomorrow morning! LOL I told them politely we don't do super last min stuff like that. Anyways... I gave them some brochures and posters for them to put up in their event tomorrow. They said at least there's something.. haha Them being future uni grads... Hmmm.....

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  4. Hope it goes well for you! Sometimes these last minute things can be the most rewarding.

    I'm sure you and your smelly foot will do a grand job!

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  5. You can do it! Go Nick, Go Nick, Go! That was my little cheer to motivate you....did it work? :o)

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  6. That just sucks. I don't like it when I'm asked to do things at the last min too. Sigh.

    Oh well, I guess you can't do much about it. Don't worry tho, we'll all be cheering for you with our pompoms! :P Go Nick Go!

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  7. Ah well. I bet this last minute job will be one of your greater projects Nick. That's how it always is. :D

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  8. Shemah - Well, all my clients think we can work miracles. I've never met a client who actually didn't say their work was not urgent ... LOL!

    I have no choice but to do, cari makan and all that you know ... LOL!

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  9. Cindy - Don't we all ... LOL! At least it makes you drink coffee, it just drives me up the wall!

    Thanks for the wishes, I'm going to need all the luck I can get ... hehehe ...

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  10. Osindak - LOL! At least they accepted your polite refusal. My clients don't know what 'No, there's not enough time to do it' means ... sighhhhhhh ... Looks like it's going to be a long night today.

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  11. the world according to me - Well, if you knew my clients you'd definitely know it's far from rewarding when it comes to them.

    Yeah, I'm sure my smelly foot would stumble through somehow ... LOL!

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  12. Rozella - I really don't mind last minute work, in fact in a perverse kind of way, I thrive on it but these client expect miracles la ... sigghhhh ... Oh well, like you said, I can't do anything about it ... *bigger sigh*

    You guys got pompoms? Cool ... hehehe ...

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  13. Haizum - LOL! I really hope so la ... So far it's always just been stressful and nothing else!

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  14. and he has the cheek to say "still a lot of time"! at least sound a bit apologetic lah...

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  15. Sting - Yeah, at least feel a little guilty about making us work like chicken without heads for the next 2 days la ... LOL!

    Oh, and clients are NEVER apologetic :D

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  16. Tammy - LOL! Thanks for the motivational cheer ... I'll let you know tomorrow whether it worked or not ... LOL!

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  17. Well mate, it's kind of a compliment because he's thinking if no one else can do it, Nick can!

    But I'd wanna strangle Xyz (funny name! pronounceable though!) too if I were in your shoes.

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  18. Hey Nick! How's the job coming along?? Which mall is this?? Maybe I can go check out your masterpiece! :D

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  19. Lol... I hate when people ask me to do things at the last minute!

    of even worse...

    Right before leave work.

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  20. Hui Sen - I could do with a little less compliments of these kinds, thank you ... LOL!

    Oh, trust me, I was on the verge of hanging up :D

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  21. Syura - Thankfully the job is done ... phewwwwww!

    I doubt if it'll ever be a masterpiece. LOL! It's going to be held in Ampang Park, of all places!

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  22. Jillian - Oh, I agree, I'd be screaming bloody murder if they made me do last minute stuff just as I was leaving for home!

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  23. Ha ha ha ... "A lot of time my smelly foot" indeed! I just love reading stories on your clients! :)

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  24. Marzie - LOL! Glad you can laugh about it. You're in the same industry as I am so you probably know how true these things are, ya ...

    Oh, I have loads more client stories to tell, which reminds me of a client tale that I'm going to post next! :D

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  25. I have horrible supplier, you have demanding customer! Work sucks on some days. But we do love our jobs on most days,don't you agree?

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  26. sit back with a nice steaming mug of coffee and just blog all day

    that would be the PERFECT day to me

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  27. BT - LOL! I'd have to grudgingly agree with you. Work can be fun on some days but it's rare I tell ya ...

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  28. Meleah - Oh, that would be just peach for me too ... LOL!

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  29. Nick, I hate when someone asks me to do things for yesterday! I can't get no work under pressure. :D

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  30. Cidao - LOL! The thing with my clients are, they always expect us to do things at the last minute ...

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