First, keep in mind that

all of the above choices

inflict pain! 

     It’s difficult to engage the services of a literary agent, doctor, dentist, lawyer, plumber, vet, auto mechanic, or computer geek without broadside exposure to physical and/or emotional and/or financial pain. 

     It is also often difficult to hire one of these vendors (or “professionals” as they like to call themselves) without running the risk of annihilation of your body, your feelings, and your wallet (and if those, then probably your brain as well). 

     Thus the Boy Scouts of America Motto: “Be Prepared” echoed by none other than Henry David Thoreau who proclaimed the need to “Be forever on the alert!”

     The point arrives in everyones’ lives where a “prepared” and “alert” choice must be made between perceived characteristics of services that are “older, more experienced, physically weaker, and more conservative” vs. “younger, less experienced, physically stronger, and more liberal.” 

     Do you go for the stronger, quicker, 20-something, messier, higher-priced plumber (or doctor or lawyer or literary agent) who shows up with an attitude, when he or she feels like it, with her or his backward baseball cap (to prevent neck sunburn?) and some form of stereotypical “crack” exposed . . . or the the weaker, slower, 50-something, neater, lower-priced plumber (or vet or auto mechanic or computer geek) who shows up humble and accommodating, exactly on time, with his bald head uncovered or her hair neatly out of her face and, oh yes, a longer shirttail?       

     So have you done your homework, or just thumbed through your phonebook yellow pages or newspaper classifieds?  Did you know it’s been proven that we spend more time and energy evaluating the purchase of a can of beans than we do choosing a doctor?  (That is weird!) 

     I always liked the old ad for a $200 motorcycle helmet that said something like,

If you think your head

is worth $24.95,

buy a $24.95 helmet!” 

     If you think your reputation, material possessions, your body, teeth, pipes, pet, car, or computer isn’t worth more than a can of beans, then go ahead and pick a doctor (lawyer, dentist, plumber, vet, mechanic, or computer guru) from advertising!  Then be “prepared” and “alert” for pain.  Your choice.  Enjoy!       halalpiar

Note:  Hal Alpiar is the author of DOCTOR SHOPPING . . . How To Choose The Right Doctor For You And Your Family, which won a national book award for consumer health information.  See www.TheWriterWorks.com for additional details on Hal’s professional practice consulting, training and marketing programs or call 302.933.0116