lessons, lessons

I'm walking back from my class, having had a great experience, as well as having gotten a book seller to agree to sell me a hardcover book I want for several dollars less than the asking price, without having to ask him, and winning ten dollars in the lottery. I got back and got a message from the person whose book I am finishing. He was upset with me. He claimed that I did not send him the layout (which I did), and claimed that I should have communicated with him more. He was very emotional, and I held my ground and was as patient as I could be.
I realised that I had to be patient. This is his first book, and I gather that he wanted me to contact him much more often.
I learnt something from this coversation with him....

Clients want to feel that your focus is on their work ONLY
I have always known that, but this time, it is more acute.

He did not like coming to my families home. He got hopelessly lost and I had offered to meet him somewhere in between.
He didn't say this, but what has happened with this 'situation,' is that it is a sort of precersor to freelancing to come.

I know that whoever contacts me has to feel as though they have called a business place. I have already decided that I have to activate my cellphone when the whole thing is decided.
I may even need a Canadian voice, but I'll see. That may not be necessary, but I will not overlook it.
Honestly, this situation also happened to make me look at myself more starkly. I have had many issues doing this book. From using a certain software, to outsourcing the pictures. I also wanted to have my vision realised. I could have finished the book without the icons, but I really wanted to make the book rich. I don't regret that.

When you want to do the best job possible and you want to succeed, there is no room for criticism from the outside when you critique yourself.
It took alot of patience on my part as I said before, because he was wrong on so many points he made to me, but he wanted to vent, and I had to listen as well as stand my ground.
I ended up asking him, what advantage would I have in not providing the best job possible to him?

Honestly I want very few conrontations in my freelance graphic design life. I want to learn how to handle clients without issue. It doesn;t happen over night and it only happens through practice.
I decided that I would learn from it.

Take my own advice.