Did not ask for references (I was so green, didn't know it was even done.  I didn't even know that people write reviews, or about TER-totally on my own).

Spent too much time off the clock with clients, only to have one or two "like me" way too much.  Boundaries were gray.

Fell in love with a married client, spent a year waiting for him to get his divorce.  That was tough!

Drove to a seedy neighborhood for an out call late at night, alone...ugh!

That's enough revealing my shortcomings, for now.  It's not easy telling about dumb mistakes.  

Drove way too far for an out call appointment and didn't charge enough to cover the time and fuel expense.

When I first started I hired someone to take my calls and screen the potential dates.

Two near disasters tought me not to trust my safety into hands of someone who gets paid for sending me to strangers homes.

There are several exceptional ladies in the business who can be trusted with my screening if I chose to go that way.  But it took me some time to get to know them and their exceptional reputation.

Lina

Upselling.... 5 yrs ago, I was taught that was how it worked... arrival fee and everthing else is extra It took me a couple yrs to figure out that's NOT the way to go. All it does it pisses the guys off, creates bad reviews for yourself, and you loose clientele.... flat rates are the way to go!!

I didn't make any mistakes to tell the truth. That is because I started out owning an agency first, (with a partner) and because I did all the work went out on my own.

Then it was too much to handle the different problems of the girls and do everything for them too (I was very sensitive to their needs, which after awhile wasn't appreciated), so I became a provider.

Less headaches, no split, and no mistakes---they were already learned on the other side of the business.

Working for a service, taking a check, leaving my purse unzipped and going to the bathroom without it, getting greedy, double booking....and the list goes on. That is how you learn in a biz when you don't know who to trust or you don't know the ropes.

*Jordan adjusts specs and reads attentively*

Just kidding....well maybe not. I WILL be back to this thread tonight!!!

I was extremely shy in the beginning. I had no clue of the rules and was kind of open in my personal life and ended up with a stalker to the point where I needed to retreat for 6 months.

I have since learned...