Finding the Perfect Fit

Hooray for vacations! Tomorrow Ben and I will be heading to California for some much needed R&R and adventuring (those two sound like they shouldn’t go together, but somehow the combo always works for us). It’s kind of coming at the perfect time – I’ve been fighting this week with something I hear a lot of other people are right now too. Health Insurance.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to go all political on you, but I learned something in the process of finding insurance for next year that is actually valuable and applicable to other decisions too. It might not be the most glamourous way of figuring things out (in fact, I totally wish this story was more glamorous), but sometimes you have to learn the hard way.

After hours looking at plans and shedding tears and making phone calls and sending emails, we ultimately decided that although it would be easier to get our health insurance through Ben’s company, that wasn’t the right option for us.  The plans were a little on the expensive side for what they offered, and we didn’t really like the coverage, or the company that provided the service. I felt really stressed – like there was no way I could find an option that was perfect for us.

And then I decided to give up on perfect (again. This is becoming a reoccurring theme). Instead, I decided to figure out what was more valuable to us – paying a lot for less benefit to do things the easy way, or saving myself a boatload of headaches down the road by finding my own way even though it could cost slightly more. Would I rather work with a company that I know had my back and would provide good service at a higher price, or work with the company that I know could refuse to cover the costs of medical care if that’s what they felt like? I decided I would rather pay just a little bit more to work with someone I trusted and whose services I liked.

The thing is, we get choices when it comes to the products we buy and services we choose. And you know when you make the right one. Once I decided that it wasn’t worth the headache to take the provided option, I felt like the clouds cleared and I could breathe easier. I was completely confident that it was the right choice. It turns out it will only be slightly more expensive and we get better coverage because of it and I know we are working with a company who takes care of the people they cover.

And if I’m being totally honest, this is how I want my clients to feel when they book me to take their photographs.  That we are the perfect fit. I want them to be excited that they found exactly what they were looking for.

So how do you find the right fit?

* You are the only person who knows what matters to you. Take the time to set your priorities; knowing what they are in advance will make it easier to identify the right fit when you find it. Figuring out what matters to you will relieve some of your anxiety and help you think through things clearly.

* Of what matters, decide what is the most important and what you would be willing to give up. Do you care more about quality, or price? Are you most intent on finding something within your budget or someone you innately trust? How important is style, service, speed? Can you live with two out of three or do you need to have three out of three? It is perfectly okay to value some things more than others – but be confident in your decisions.

* Go with your gut. You’ll know when you find your perfect match (and maybe it is a little like dating). You’ll feel excited about working together, confident that they will provide the services they promised, glad that you made the decision to do business with that person, and thrilled at the possibilities of what can come from the collaboration.

Hugs to you all and have a wonderful weekend!