The nicest thing I usually get is 'thank you.' My latest client that I finished a logo for said, "You worked so hard on these. It was very hard to choose!" That's a huge compliment that I did such a good job she couldn't choose. :) Another once called me a 'hero' for doing a little job for him that took just a modest amount of time for a modest amount of money. It was just something he couldn't do and was so happy I had done it for him. Yipee! I should definitely keep a log of the 'good stuff' clients say because as you say, there is so much bad stuff!

One of the greatest supporters of my budding photography business (other than my mother) is my friend Cathryn. After purchasing a variety of prints and photo greeting cards, including one featuring hearts painted on a brick wall in D.C., she wrote to me:

"I am so in love with my photos. I keep thinking that I am going to look at these photos in 50 years and that they are going to bring back wonderful memories. Hearts on a Wall, in particular, makes MY heart happy."

In a few short sentences, she summed up my raison d'etre. Nothing makes me happier than pleasing people with photography that lasts for a lifetime. And to have a client that appreciates it? PRICELESS!

This was posted to our CEO's facebook page, it was really nice to see. Wayne had done a tele-town hall for the first time where people were able to call in and ask questions, and it a great way to interact with people. It was nice to see the people felt as positive about it as we did!

Hi Wayne -- this message is a little delayed but a couple of weeks ago you held a community phone conference call with HSUS supporters all over the U.S. You fielded questions from all angles, skillfully and knowledgeably - and with content and facts - not a lot of fluff. It is clear to me why HSUS is the top animal a...dvocacy org. in the U.S. if not the world. My monthly donations are a well-spent investment.

Here is what one reader said about us on her blog recently:
>>I loved the issue that arrived so much that I went ahead and ordered a dozen back issues. What a wonderful great local gardening source! The magazine is put together so extremely well and is a verifiable goldmine of useful information, with loads of ideas & tips all throughout. Best of all, the magazine is tailored precisely to a local audience of passionate gardeners like me. I am so happy to have discovered this gem, and look forward to expanding my gardening knowledge and know-how with the help of Washington Gardener.

Well, I don't really have clients, but I suppose I do have constituents (I'm a Pastor)... my favorite feedback of the year was right after a funeral when a member said, "Nice. That was the least B.S.-filled memorial service I've ever heard." I twittered it at the time as my compliment of the year!

Sometimes it's not so much outright praise, but the actions of a client that give the best feedback. I work for an association (my second such role) and the best validation I can ever think of for any kind of interaction with a client--from a phone call to a full-fledged consulting project--is to have them return for insight because you have become a trusted advisor to them. It's truly deeds of praise--not just words.

I don't have clients as much as patrons. I run a public school library. The population of the school is 3 yr. olds to 3rd grade. I hear the students in the hall complaining they don't want to go to music or PE, even the playground. transition is hard for these kids. but when I hear "yay! we're going to the library!" It does a body good.

(PS My vote is for SW, God bless you and the work you do!)

And here's one of my recent favorites:

We Love Dr. V.

I first went to Dr. Vogelmann when I was about 6 months pregnant and in excruciating pain. My lower back was so awful I could barely move any longer. When I first went in, he didn't just ask me about the problem I was complaining of, but asked a lot of questions about my pregnancy as a whole -- and discovered that I also was fighting a losing battle with extreme nausea. The adjustments he performed helped tremendously with both the back and my stomach. This was my second pregnancy and both were a real struggle with nausea -- I was hospitalized a few times with the first one, and only hung on by a thread because of prescription anti-nausea mediation, that left me really groggy. After Dr. Vogelmann started treating me, for the first time in 15 months of pregnancies, the nausea virtually disappeared and I was able to put aside the meds. And if he didn't start working on my back, I don't know how I could have possibly survived the rest of the pregnancy. He also helped me continue to heal my back problems post-partum and I was my old self within weeks. Just as I got better, we discovered that my husband and baby daughter both needed his help too. Dave threw his back out and couldn't move for an entire weekend. I dragged him into Dr. V (he was skeptical at first) and now is a regular patient, going in for at least monthly adjustments to help him deal better with his job that requires constant driving all day long. And when my baby was about 6 weeks old, we discovered that her head was flattening on one side, due to constricted neck muscles that were causing her to favor one side of her head. Our (wonderful) pediatrician suggested we fit her for a helmut for a few months to reshape her head, but luckily, Dr. V had told me about other babies he had treated. I brought her in for a consultation and with just a few sessions of gentle adjustments (one of which he taught us to do on her own), all of Katy's problems resolved themselves without any need for her to have to wear a helmut for months on end. I've recommended him to other friends and family and trust him completely. He's a wonderful healer, and someone who cares about the total patient, not just their easily identifiable chiropractic needs

It's rather flattering to hear this stuff but my hat size remains the same. ;)

What a great idea!

I work in immigration law with a focus on cases for immigrant women and children who are victims of crimes in the United States. When I was leaving the nonprofit, a female client who had survived a brutal gang rape told me:

If God had never had me go through what I did, you would have never come into our lives. We love you and will never forget everything that you did for us.

This was the first and only time that I have ever cried in front of a client. I can't even type the story without getting tears in my eyes.

Happy Holidays and congrats on your new office! Hope to see you at a Tweetup soon!

Well considering that for the last 5 years my clients have consisted of teens, tweens and toddlers of my own making. I count among the nicest things I've been told "Mommy, I love your fat belly so much. It's warm and cozy" and "DUDE you ROCK!" and "You don't suck like other moms, why is that?". How's that for spreading the spirit? OFF TO THE GYM!