I finally lost it over a client's stump grinding request
In my experience, some folks think grinding a stump means removing the whole root system. I had to explain it three times and they still didn't get it. Your mileage may vary, but it's tiring when basic tree care ideas just don't click.
Goodness, that reminds me of the time a neighbor asked if mowing his lawn included trimming the hedges around his property line. Some people just have a different picture in their head of what the work actually involves. It really does make a simple job twice as hard.
Yeah, that bit about "a different picture in their head" hits home. I've learned to lay out exactly what the job covers before I even start. It saves so much hassle later when someone assumes extra tasks are included. Like once I agreed to help a friend clean their garage, and they thought it meant organizing shelves too, which was a whole other thing. Now I make a quick list or just say what's in and what's out. It turns a messy job into something straightforward and keeps everyone on the same page.