The Dark Side of Private Service

The Dark Side.

We all have it within us, and it exists as potential in all things great and small. And so it goes in the private service industry.

We exist in a very unique, isolated, and often misunderstood career/industry that we have chosen or fallen into at some point in our lives. There are plenty of amazing and intriguing attributes to being in service, with somewhat of a clandestine, sexy isolation and knowledge of who we are and whom we serve. The benefits are myriad, but be warned - the equal and opposite inherent trait is what we politely call "The Dark Side."

What exactly is The Dark Side, you ask? It is the gray area that contains an unregulated, privileged, entitled, and catered to set of non-rules and regulations that we can all succumb to while in the employ of private, ridiculously rich families and individuals. The world revolves around them. We build businesses to serve them. And more than likely, great disappointment and failure is left in the wake of doing business with them. Such is the case, more often than not, when we try to recruit amazing people to work in the homes of the ultra-high-net-worth client.

More specifically, best intentions are left on the floor when plans are cancelled, desires shift, or minds change. Such is the whim of the rich, and as much as we love it, we also hate it. When a dedicated service provider like a domestic agency commits time, resources, emotion, and reputation to a new assignment, the hopes and dreams of a positive outcome are delightful. But when those hopes are dashed by the client changing their course on the hire or restructuring their staff, we are left picking up the pieces of our efforts and delivering the worst news to our prospects (and sometimes friends) that the road has ended. This, indeed, is one of the glimpses of The Dark Side of the business.

So to all the amazing private service professionals that have experienced the disappointment of an amazing opportunity cut short, we grieve with you. Your lives, and careers, and goals are heavy on our hearts, and we do our best to pursue the amazing, joyful scenarios our little industry has to offer. However, know for sure that we recognize and lament the possibility of encountering "The Dark Side."

May the force be with you in your pursuit of excellence and service at the highest levels. We'll keep trying, and do everything we can to walk beside you on the path to joy in private service.