They end up shopping in the same stores, wear the same clothes, eat in the same restaurants and holiday in the same resorts… the only difference being that their employer’s bank balance can support such luxuries and the staff member’s most certainly can’t.
As if the above wasn’t bad enough, things get even more mortifying when these great pretenders decide to take on the persona of their principals and their egos begin to run amok. They speak to hotel, restaurant and shop staff with utter contempt and misrepresent the person they work for to such an extent that it’s their employer’s reputation that begins to suffer and that’s inexcusable.
I am aware of at least one chauffeur who has lost their role through using a client’s name to gain favour and financial discounts, obviously without the client’s knowledge or permission.
In my book there’s nothing more flattering in our profession than gaining a client’s trust to the point where they know they can utterly depend on you and they appreciate your ability to get things organised on their behalf when it’s appropriate. That’s great, but that reliance doesn’t extend to using and abusing their good name or position for your own ends.
I have enormous and very genuine admiration for anyone who makes it to the top of their chosen field, whether that’s in business, the arts, media or whatever but I’m entirely happy being someone who makes a living in support of such people.
I’m not jealous, not in the least because I know full well I don’t have the personal qualities or skills to do what they do. Like the vast majority of chauffeurs, I’m immensely proud of my profession and whilst I’m ‘in service’ I don’t feel inferior to anyone because clients respect me for what I do in the same way as I respect them. I consider what I do a skill and something a surprising number of people don’t have the personal qualities to do well.
So, know your place and be content with it. There’s nothing wrong with ambition or aspirations but try to be someone you’re not at your peril. If you genuinely resent the fact that you’re driving instead of being driven, it’s probably time to stop being a chauffeur.
Andy Dubberley.
