October 4. Tuesday Night.

Hi Journey.

Team signed client without me last Wednesday. I always feel good about that.

OK, mostly without me. I helped a skosh on the close. Plus, had a great referral from Lori Jeffers, who's the same age and lives about six blocks away. I sat down with the new client today for the intro get-to-know her Snapshot Session

Judy Dodgson. Pretty typical. 48, CPA, married 23 years, 3 kids. Youngest one's a senior at Southeast High; husband peddles life insurance for Mass Mutual. Asked her if she'd ever bumped into Dad even though he'd sold for AssureGuard Life. Said she thought she'd met both Dad and Mom at a statewide Professional Insurance Association mixer years ago. They want to buy a winter condo or townhouse down in Florida a few years down the road. Must be the dream of all Midwest insurance agents, but I didn't tell her that. Task at hand is to convert their old Family room into a Great Room.

Snapshot Session was A++. Judy trundled in two six-inch thick albums chuck-full of candid photos of her kids. She also brought her wedding album, plus shots of a couple of favorite outfits. Sooo glad Joni suggested we start having clients gather up their personal info for the first face-to-face meeting. Lordy, but I never knew how much people love to talk about themselves. Judy even let on how her wedding dress split down the side on their honeymoon when she and her husband climbed into the shower as they belted out Singin' in the Rain at midnight in their room at the Hyatt. Evidently they'd prematurely uncorked a bottle of Bollinger's originally slated to jumpstart their one year anniversary.

During the 15 minute icebreaker period when we discussed her family she allowed how she viewed herself as a complete washout at color co-ordination. Of course I told her welcome to the club! She confessed that for the family portrait she actually asked her mother-in-law to help pick which outfits each of them would look best in.

Looking at the portrait, I think her mother-in-law did ok, but then Shelly wasn't around to take a peek at the pic, and I know quite well my own judgment is suspect.

At least Judy's open to suggestion. Always a good sign with a new client.

All in all a satisfying first session. Will take Shelly out next week for on-site with a few fabric and paint swatches. Believe (OK, hope) we can upsell Judy on some cool-looking window treatments.

NOTE—check w/Joni re:schedule for week after next to see if there's time slotted in for a Crystal Hour session back at the office. Think I forgot to pencil that in.