You know the saying – never mix business with pleasure. Well, that is a lesson I’ve learned the hard way, more than once!
I once asked a friend of mine to take on a project for an important contact at his agreed professional rate. Yet, not only did he under perform – he didn’t do anything.
After weeks of ignoring me, he simply wrote back saying he had been busy with other clients and was unable to do the job. He went on to send my contact a one-line email saying “sorry, I can’t do the job for you.”
Whether I was a friend or not didn’t matter. At the end of the day, his client fulfillment and communication systems were horrendous! While my own relationship with my contact remained intact, my friendship did not.
Action – There are more than enough advisors, professionals and specialists out there for you to choose from.
Keep your friends and business relationships separate.
I like this!
Dear Nancy, just a small comment on your daily suggestion. exceptions on old saying confirm the rule. from my own experience I can tell that on the other way round sometimes it works. if people are first colleagues and then becomes friends, the relationship is solid having already tested the reliability on the job … having said that there is no assurance that person who have gained your trust then changes … my strongest friendships (30 years and more) comes from the job! thanks for your pearls of wisdom, they light up my days … Caterina
The friendship ends when the business begins…..heard once and been saying since.
Oooh, yes. Good phrase!