I got to my office just now and found a small box sitting outside my door.  Turns out it was a gift, sent to me by a client in England (I’m in Boston) whose newsletter I had just finished working on. Wow, that really made my day.

Many people who go off on their own to start a business (myself included) have no idea that this kind of thing even exists; that people who hire you can be so happy with the work you do, that in addition to paying your fee, they give you a gift on top of it.

That’s too bad, because it seems to me, that’s what everyone’s working life should be about:  A standing ovation from the same people who just waited in line and paid a lot of money to see you perform.