It takes all kinds.  

These four words came to mind recently when a customer called to explain his tremendous satisfaction with the materials and quality of workmanship he received when allowing me the opportunity to mat and frame a piece of reproduced art from his collection.  It had been conveniently rolled and stored away in a cardboard tube since 1970 and he was so happy that the day finally arrived that would allow him to begin enjoying it.  I told him how happy I was to know that he was satisfied but once the positive approach had been delivered his negative brass tacks were ready and waiting to puncture the joy I felt when I learned I had satisfied my obligations to him.  First he complained about the cost of the materials used.  I would imagine he felt this would somehow link his frustration to me forcing me to make an attempt to “fix” what he felt was broken.  He explained how unhappy he was when he noticed the ripples that appeared across the entire surface of the art.  He said he didn’t want to be a pain but he knew it was going to bother him every time he viewed the piece.  The ripples had nothing to do with me, the materials I used or the processes completed.  The ripples were there due to the fact that the piece had been rolled and stored in a tube for over 40 years.  I might add that they were so slight that they were only visible in certain light while laying flat and not at all visible when the piece was in the upright, hanging position.

When I’m confronted with a situation like this I typically assemble a list of information that inherently forces the listening ear to immediately google everything I’ve said.  Some of the items that almost always end up on my list are reasons for what has caused the issue that required the phone call followed by a list of possible solutions.  I tend to use my professional, take charge, in control voice doing everything within my power not to say what it is, I am actually thinking.  I have moments when I’d love to say what I’m actually thinking and I fear the day will come when I do actually say what I’m actually thinking.

During the recent phone call I wanted to say the issues he had with the piece had absolutely nothing to do with the piece but rather revealed a microscopic truth about who he was as a person.  I would have then explained that if he finds he is spending more than 45 seconds a day any day of any week in any month during any year obsessing about an inanimate object and it’s slight imperfections and  allowing it to ruin his day, HE HAS NO LIFE!

I understand perfection but I don’t always understand it’s misuse and or abuse.  When I frame I strive for perfection because I feel it’s what my customers expect but in life I try not to overwhelm my sensibilities by unnecessarily forcing perfection into every nook and cranny I can find.  I’ve worked for and with people for years and my favorites are the ones that set out to do their very best each and every day but also celebrate the moments when they allow themselves to see the beauty in imperfection.  These are the kind of people that use no more than 45 seconds a day obsessing about things that don’t matter and the other 86,355 seconds enjoying all the things that do!