On another level.
Remember that if your business was huge and you had the best in each aspect of the business just running that bit. You would be the tiler and you'd have salesmen or confident people doing the quoting and searching for leads.
So when you go in there, on a certain level the customer is expecting a tiler to show up, which is why (without really thinking deep into it) we know that when we look at ourselves on the first quote we look too clean - so we 'dirty' our gear / clothes.
So concentrate more on 'tiling'. Find the few things you know you're confident with (using a level / applying the adhesive / mixing the tiles / whatever) and talk about that a lot at first "and Mrs Jones I'll make sure that the tiles are spot on level and plumb, there will be none of this (be thankful if you found something unlevel to put your level on) unlevelness (giving the customer things to think about - taking their mind and yours off the things you might be hesitant with your replies).
I bet the right person could get a job just talking about their sucess in tiling and nothing more - no quote, no tape measure, dirty clothes (perhaps standing at the door outside because of it and making a big thing about that) because if you're just pointing out all good things that the customer wants to hear then due to the fact humans store info they want to hear more so than not - providing the other tilers go in and each fall short on one or two of the things you've talked about that you're good at the customer will compare that way - as you've given them amo, yet only amo that doesn't work against you - as you stated you're good at those so it's unquestionable from then-on.
I know I waffle a bit when I write like this. But communication and getting across your points is really important in work and personal life I feel. I've always been positive and pro-active (though it's cost me - but it's all experience) and I can't pass on years of tiling experience etc.
But when I hear about tilers not getting jobs because they're new (and especially when I hear THE tiler saying it) I get annoyed a little.
There are positives to having a new tiler. And I'd like to think knowing so many I could find a good win:Win situation when I need my bathroom doing (hint hint).
I wont go into it. But I'm sure you can point out a few of your own.
Don't worry about the quote process. Go in the room and tile it with your mind, even mutter the odd word as you're doing it, make the customer wait in silence next to you even while you look around the rad or loo or whatever. Then stand up, look satisfied, say "I WILL make sure that your cuts here are not like what they are now, YOU WILL be impressed to see them, think about having this here Mrs Jones" and you'll find you'll not need to concentrate on not farting and worrying about things you've read about other tilers.
Good luck.
Remember that if your business was huge and you had the best in each aspect of the business just running that bit. You would be the tiler and you'd have salesmen or confident people doing the quoting and searching for leads.
So when you go in there, on a certain level the customer is expecting a tiler to show up, which is why (without really thinking deep into it) we know that when we look at ourselves on the first quote we look too clean - so we 'dirty' our gear / clothes.
So concentrate more on 'tiling'. Find the few things you know you're confident with (using a level / applying the adhesive / mixing the tiles / whatever) and talk about that a lot at first "and Mrs Jones I'll make sure that the tiles are spot on level and plumb, there will be none of this (be thankful if you found something unlevel to put your level on) unlevelness (giving the customer things to think about - taking their mind and yours off the things you might be hesitant with your replies).
I bet the right person could get a job just talking about their sucess in tiling and nothing more - no quote, no tape measure, dirty clothes (perhaps standing at the door outside because of it and making a big thing about that) because if you're just pointing out all good things that the customer wants to hear then due to the fact humans store info they want to hear more so than not - providing the other tilers go in and each fall short on one or two of the things you've talked about that you're good at the customer will compare that way - as you've given them amo, yet only amo that doesn't work against you - as you stated you're good at those so it's unquestionable from then-on.
I know I waffle a bit when I write like this. But communication and getting across your points is really important in work and personal life I feel. I've always been positive and pro-active (though it's cost me - but it's all experience) and I can't pass on years of tiling experience etc.
But when I hear about tilers not getting jobs because they're new (and especially when I hear THE tiler saying it) I get annoyed a little.
There are positives to having a new tiler. And I'd like to think knowing so many I could find a good win:Win situation when I need my bathroom doing (hint hint).
I wont go into it. But I'm sure you can point out a few of your own.
Don't worry about the quote process. Go in the room and tile it with your mind, even mutter the odd word as you're doing it, make the customer wait in silence next to you even while you look around the rad or loo or whatever. Then stand up, look satisfied, say "I WILL make sure that your cuts here are not like what they are now, YOU WILL be impressed to see them, think about having this here Mrs Jones" and you'll find you'll not need to concentrate on not farting and worrying about things you've read about other tilers.
Good luck.
