For more great articles and FREE attorney resources visit us: www.RainmakerLawyer.com
The other day I gave a client a ride to a meeting we were both attending. The client, let’s call him George, got into my car and made a remark about how it seemed like a practical car.I drive a five year old Honda Pilot and at any given time it has baby toys in the back seat, a copy of the Florida Bar Journal, a Copy of the Wall Street Journal and crumbs from the last snack my 15 month old son ate.
When my client made this comment, I smiled.
You see George came to me as a client over three years ago. His book of business was a hair shy of $150,000 and he was having trouble making ends meet. A couple of the first months we worked together, I had to charge his credit card in two increments during the month because I could not get approval for the full amount. The reason I smiled when George made this comment was because even during those tough times, George drove a fancy car. Back then it was a leased Porsche (with a $900+ payment per month).
Now George is bringing in over $650,000 a year and he has moved on to a Mercedes S500. Which he is leasing for North of $1,200 a month.
Personally, I’ve never spent a lot of money on a car. To me it has always been transportation. And I’m fine with you judging me based upon what I drive. My car says I care about my family. Everyone fits in it – including my mother-in-law and my nieces (they often travel with us). It is constantly cluttered with things I focus my energy on, reading material for work, toys for my son, and groceries.
Many people say image is important. They say that people will think less of me because of what I drive. That may be the case. But the person who bases their hiring decision upon what I drive is probably not my ideal client. After all, who wouldn’t want to work with a practical guy who cares about his family?