This might be the last time you see me in your hotel.

It might be the last time you get to give me support on the $3,000 a month web hosting I’m buying from you.

It might be my last blog post (unlikely, but possible).

With so many choices, every business lives right on the edge. When you were the only florist in my town, storming off in a huff cost me as much as it cost you. Now, it’s sort of trivial to just type a few different letters into my browser.

Yes, switching costs make some people hesitate before moving to Firefox or KPMG or National Rent a Car. But when customers have been trained to no longer tolerate imperfection, they can go (forever) at any moment.

I try to give every speech I do like it might be the last chance I ever get to give one. I still remember the last canoe lesson I gave, the last time I walked out the door at my one real job and the last time I talked to my mom. Sometimes you get advance warning, sometimes you get to cherish the moment or try a bit harder. Other times, though, it just–stops.

If you know that tomorrow is your last chance, is it going to go differently?