Recently our industry has seen a lot of shifts. People selling companies, people acquiring companies, companies merging, and sadly… companies falling apart or people within the company disagreeing or parting ways.
I have talked about how out of the 10 times or so I have tried to form a company with friends its only worked out once. I am guessing that is a little below average for most but that’s just from my experience.
I am certainly not discouraged from doing it in the future, in fact I feel much more educated in what to look for in business partners.
Here is the meat of this post. Over my last 7 years I have seen many people split ways and whenever it happens, especially when I am good friends with the parties involved, I always hear about how one side is bashing the other, or how one side is talking shit about the other, or how one side is trying to ruin the others reputation.
The bottom line is people know, or they will know.
I have never in the past (nor will I in the future) talk bad in public about my former business partners. In fact I always always tell people when they ask about the situation that it was my fault it did not work. Usually they are asking because they are thinking about working with them.
I usually always say the same stuff. Just make sure you guys have a FIRM understanding of who is doing what. Make sure you have your legal ducks in order, and especially an exit clause that makes things simple if and when you part ways.
But again back to the point of this article. You can’t worry about what former employee’s and partners say about you. I have done business with some of the worst reputation wise people in the business and they turned out to be ok for what I hired them to do. Likewise I have done business with very recommended individuals and they were shit.
Again People Know. You either bring value or you don’t. It makes little sense to continue a relationship with someone if they no longer bring value. Thats all their is to it.
If you are hesitating on making changes to your company based on what people think. I highly recommend this post by Seth Godin.
Here is a small excerpt:
Every organization worth its salt has at least one guy like this. Someone who knows every technical detail, or has vast expertise in the parliamentary procedure. Perhaps he’s the coot who knows every verse of the Bible or is the only one with a Master’s license. Maybe he’s the guy (the only guy) who can fix that big machine.
And he’s a jerk.
He’s the first one to point out a minor technical glitch and the last guy to want to get on board with a new program. He hazes first-timers and avoids the people who are actually productive. Or he’s the one who can take any metaphor and make it literal, instantly, poking holes in it as he goes.
And of course, he’s the one everyone has to tiptoe around, because they know his technical status can sink their initiative.
I think you should fire this person immediately. Okay, maybe give him exactly one warning.
Its painful to fire people because you think nobody else can do their job, or because its going to be sooo hard to find people to replace them.
Its not.
About the author...
Jeremy Schoemaker – who has written 2473 posts on ShoeMoney.com.
Hi I am Jeremy Schoemaker and ShoeMoney.com is my blog. 99% of the post here are done by me but you will see others occasionally make guest posts. This blog is fun to write but for my day job I run several online companies.
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{ 93 comments… read them below or add one }
Putting down others is not good, I hate it
I’m usually wary of people who do that.
Protect the needs of your business, but avoid working with the person when possible. Choose projects he or she does not impact. Don’t hurt your own career or your business, but avoidance is an option.
Avoidance is really an option. You may choose to be still friends with him or her but not as business partners.
Well, it speaks a lot of the person’s character when he or she does that. It’s still best to take the higher ground and let history be the judge.
Pointing the finger at the other person when a partnership didn’t work out is such a — to say it bluntly — dick move to do. What do you think, Jeremy?
Where’s the LIKE button when you need one?
The better person is the one who says the least or nothing at all of why a business relationship ended.
Be pleasant and agreeable as you talk with the other person. They may not be aware of the impact of their words or actions on you. They may be learning about their impact on you for the first time. Or, they may have to consider and confront a pattern in their own interaction with people. Worst case? They may know their impact on you and deny it or try to explain it away. Unfortunately, some difficult people just don’t care. It’s either you end the partnership or know in the long run you’ll be dissed.
Word up!
As a business person, you should always maintain that business is business and sometimes for whatever reason people do not work out. It’s always been my motto to never bash a former..no matter what.
That’s a commendable thing to do. It’s like giving the other person a chance to do well in another job or business.
How come only the comments that agree to what Shoe has written are the only ones that get accepted? Hmmmm…
I’m with you Marnie. I think we should all find an obstructive jerk for our organization. All the best companies have them.
It all boils down to the Golden Rule.
My approach? Show appropriate sympathy for your partner but not empathy. Do not waiver and change your mind. Do not overstate any aspect of his or her performance.
Actually, it’s not just in business, people are the same when it comes to relationships.
Conclusion, it’s human behavior, one who knows how to control it, will be a better person in all aspects of life.
I couldn’t agree more. By not saying anything bad about another person you’re essentially giving that person an opportunity to start fresh.
What if the person you’re offering all these nice intentions doesn’t have the heart to have a fresh start? That is the question I’d love to get answered on this thread.
Business is business! If that person is not doing his or her job I’ll definitely be on a firing mood. But at the same time I would never talk down to a person like that. I just have to tell them like it is.
I like the new blog look Mr Shoe!
There should be a limit to the number of chances you can give to someone who repeatedly disappoints or fails to deliver. Keeping a partnership intact may not be the best move in certain situations.
Perhaps it’s only proper to give a person like that three warnings. The first one to make him realize he’s being annoying, the second to remind him he’s still being annoying and the third and last time to inform him that you’re fed up with his being annoying and it’s time to let him go and be annoying to other people. Thanks for the insightful post, Jeremy.
Did you know that in the past, late Friday afternoon was considered the optimum time to let someone go? Now, earlier in the day or even the week is deemed appropriate. Some companies that take this approach offer the employee the option of either remaining for the rest of the day or week or leaving immediately with pay for the workday.
Was it Rockefeller who said: “A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship.” ?
The Social Network comes to mind. It’s a bit sad if tight friendships are ruined because of business-related issues. But then again, perhaps the friendship isn’t that solid to begin with.
Running a business can sometimes take its toll on friendships. But it doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t work. There are some businesses that thrived under the leadership of people who have been friends for a long time.
Even if you’re friends with each other, there are things best left unsaid when in a business with a partners. Religion, politics and your sex life all fall under the heading of topics to avoid discussing with them. Many people consider these topics very personal and prefer to leave them out of the partnership you’ve established.
The great thing about working with friends is that you understand each other well to know how to do things seamlessly. The perspective’s a different matter though. Sometimes it takes people from the outside of that circle to recognize opportunities that you and your friend(s) may have missed out.
Yeah, it’s a shame how the relationship between those two friends ended up in the courtroom. Nice movie, btw.
When you make a mistake at work or in a business, which everyone inevitably does at some point, face up to it. Don’t ignore your error or place the blame on others. Take responsibility and come up with a solution to fix your mistake.
Great advice here. I’ve been in business or government service longer than a lot of readers here have been alive, and one of the most important things I have learned is, never, ever, bash former employers or the current competition.
This is one situation where the famous “mother saying’ really rings true … if you can’t say something nice, just say nothing at all …. in the log run this will really pay off for you.
Also, a tip regarding one of those situations where a guy/gal appears “indsspensible”.
Resolve for 2011 to find an alternative for his/her lock on the job. Not only becuase s/he may be a real shit who makes work harder than it has to be, but because people leave in a huff or even die on you … plan now to replace the “indispensable man”.
It will not only make your business stronger, it will likely cause the pain in the ass to learn some people skills and be less of a shit.
Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for a really great 2011.
In a way it does entail a certain form of ruthlessness to do that otherwise it’d be extremely difficult.
Not saying bad about former business partners or employees is a nice thing to do. At the end of the day, it’s up to the others to find out for themselves.
Your relationships with your partners are important. Good partnerships can help you establish your business or brand better. They can make going to work everyday enjoyable. Ain’t that right, Shoe?
I agree. It’s much better to let go of people who are not adding more value to the company or acting as bullies for whatever reason. There will always be someone who’ll do a better job.
Remember just one thing: excuses separate the losers from the real champions. If you give a person of this disposition a warning and he listens, keep him on your bandwagon. If he gives you BS, ditch him. It’s that simple. Why make things so complicated?
Nice article! Not many would be willing to enter into business partnerships, especially with friends, after they’ve been burned in the past.
There’s no way of knowing how a relationship, business or personal, would end up. Part of the risk that’s worth taking since the potential rewards often far outweigh whatever issues that might occur.
I like what you said about not listening to what people say about you or others you’re thinking of working for you. It’s all a matter of perspective. Besides, some things just don’t work out with certain people but it doesn’t mean that they won’t be better off working on something else.
Seth Godin is the man. I’m reading Purple Cow right now. Should have read it years ago.
P.S. The new theme is clean!
One of my favorite parts in the book. — “My goal in Purple Cow is to make it clear that it’s safer to be risky –to fortify your desire to do truly amazing things. Once you see that the old ways have nowhere to go but down, it becomes even more imperative to create things worth talking about.”
Seems like an interesting read.
Difficult people come in every conceivable variety. Some talk constantly and never listen. Others must always have the last word. I just ignore them until they get the message that I don’t want to take their BS.
Why saddle yourself with a partner or employee that’s just slowing the growth of a business, right? Most of the time the only best way forward is to remove existing or potential obstacles.
I think you deliberately missed a word in the title, Shoe. I believe the term you didn’t include was “douche bag.” Well, your best defense against these people is totally and completely ignoring them at all costs. They crave attention and taking it away is what kills them. It’s best not to encourage, not to reason with them, nothing. Ignore, ignore ignore. I know from experience this is easier said than done. Some do listen to warnings but most just cramp up your style.
But sometimes it’s the problems that occur with partners or staff that could give you invaluable feedbacks. It doesn’t automatically solve your problem if you get rid of the people who are causing you trouble. What if they have a point?
That’s true. Ignoring things has its downside. You might miss an opportunity to improve the way you manage your business.
I agree with shoe and I disagree. As someone who has called someone out and been called out themselves. I can agree that taking the higher road is more civil and respected by others. At the same time. If someone or an institution is continuing to perpetuate harm or fraud. The more people that do not speak up. The more people that will be harmed and how is that civil or good business? Most people when in a ‘fallout’ have their opinions and they are biased… “he screwed me over, she stole from me, he didnt do his part. etc.etc.” For the most part, lack of communication and understanding with a dose of responsibility is to blame. I have seen many times people agree to communicate BEFORE issues arise and yet still DO NOT. I would like to see more mediation than lawsuits and slander, but that would mean both parties admit to a problem and wanting to do something about the issue besides be right. Happy Holidays and May the World replace Anger with Education and Understanding
Very well said. And so true. There are indeed situations that call for certain parties to speak up.
Being in a business with a partner is just like marriage. A happy marriage is a matter of giving and taking. The husband gives and the wife takes, that is. Seriously, some partners attempt to undermine you and you constantly feel as if you need to watch your back. Best course of action? Show them that you’re better.
Sometimes people don’t learn from their mistakes if they’re not made aware of it. You can only let things go up to a certain extent.
Well, you should start out by examining yourself. Are you sure that the other person is really the problem and that you’re not overreacting? Have you always experienced difficulty with the same type of person or actions? Does a pattern exist for you in your interaction with coworkers? Do you recognize that you have hot buttons that are easily pushed? (We all do, you know.) Always start with self-examination to determine that the object of your attention really is a difficult person’s actions.
The Advantages of Sole Proprietorship:
Easiest and least expensive form of ownership to organize.
Sole proprietors are in complete control, and within the parameters of the law, may make decisions as they see fit.
Sole proprietors receive all income generated by the business to keep or reinvest.
Profits from the business flow-through directly to the owner’s personal tax return.
The business is easy to dissolve, if desired.
Catch my drift?
Not speaking ill of others’ is a great thing to do. People would most likely prefer to work with someone who they can trust not to say bad things about them if the business partnership fails.
Personally, I believe bashing a former colleague after a partnership didn’t work out smoothly is such an unprofessional move. Not burning bridges no matter what happened between the two of you is my philosophy. There might be other suitable opportunities for the both of you in the future and burning the bridge early in the game will just complicate things. Got anything to add here, Jeremy?
There’s no way of knowing for sure if people will deliver like you expect them to. I like the idea of letting people go at the earliest signs of problem. That way there’s opportunity to find someone who would be able to contribute more.
Well, this just shows that you shouldn’t count your chicks before the eggs hatch.
It depends on the situation. If the reason’s something that I can let slide then I have no problems keeping my thoughts to myself. But it’s an entirely different thing altogether if what the person did is something that could affect others.
You know what? Good manners are as important at partnerships as they are anywhere else. Keep this in mind when you are using your cell phone, sending email or attending an office party. Hopefully your colleague will follow your example. Works every time for me.
Let me congratulate you first on your site’s new look, Shoe. Great job on the aesthetics! Anyway, back to business. So you’re talking about the individual who has an over-inflated sense of self-worth, compounded (but not always the case) by a low level of intelligence, behaving ridiculously in front of colleagues no matter how moronic he or she appears?
Love the new look. And more importantly, the annoying pop-ups gone so it’s all good.
You mean a douche bag?
Great post! Is this a random write-up or something happened that got you thinking about it?
This is definitely one of the most insightful posts I have read today. Thanks, Shoe. Got any highlights in the webinar with Tim?
There are better things to do than say bad things about people who’ve done something bad to you or your business. As long as the damage done can be easily repaired then it’s pointless to talk about why a partnership ended.
It’s never that easy to fire a person.
I’ve been in that situation.
But to find a replacement does not as hard as we think.
Especially if we contacts our dear friends or simply send our requirement to alumni service of several college or universities.
Guy Kawasaki wrote: et people say goodbye and then get going. This is when leadership counts because any yoyo can run the show in good times. It’s bad times when you separate the men from the boys and the women from the girls.”
Your actions would either refute or confirm what others say about you. So it’s best to focus on what you do instead of addressing the negative things your detractors say.
One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. Applicable to all instances not only in business.
It never hurts to do a good turn for others. I believe in karma and I think if you make others feel good, great things are in store for you in the long run.
I know a guy that fits all of the above. Dealing with difficult people is easier when the person is just generally obnoxious or when the behavior affects more than one person. Dealing with difficult people is much tougher when they are attacking you or undermining your professional contribution. My course of action? Two words. “You’re fired!”