Appreciation post: That one perfect day last spring when everything went wrong but somehow still worked out

I had a day about 6 months ago that started with me backing my truck into a low hanging branch and cracking the windshield on my F150. Then the customer called to cancel a big mulching job I had lined up for the afternoon, which was like losing $400 right there. I almost packed it in and went home, but I decided to head over to a smaller job I had been putting off, trimming some overgrown lilacs for an older lady out on Cedar Lane. Turns out her grandson was visiting and he had just started his own landscaping business, so we spent an hour just talking shop and he gave me a solid tip on where to get bulk compost for cheap. On top of that, she paid me cash and threw in a plate of homemade cookies. The windshield still cost me $350 to fix the next day, but that day reminded me that even the crummy ones can turn around if you just keep moving. Has anyone else had a day where a cancellation ended up being a blessing in disguise?

2 comments

2 Comments

wood.zara23d ago

Wait wait wait, you got homemade cookies out of a tree trimming job that you almost skipped?

jennifer_west5223d ago

Oh come on, it's really not that deep... neighborly gestures are nice and all but I wouldn't call it some huge payoff for a job you almost didn't do. I mean you showed up, did the work, and got cookies. That's just basic decency not some special reward for not bailing. Like if I skip a meeting and then decide to go last minute I don't expect a bonus for it you know? Cookies are a nice thank you but framing it like a big win for almost flaking just feels off to me.