In my business I have the chance to work with all sorts of people with a wide variety of backgrounds, qualifications, cultures, educations and skills. I feel quite fortunate to be able to say that 99.7% of the clients I work with are smart, fair, ethical and decent. I don’t want to appear to be the “glass half empty guy” but I wanted, for a moment, to focus on the “.3%”. Why? Because of the amount of my energy they consume.
I often wonder if, in the process of doing business with these folks, if I have ignored any warning signs that might have allowed me to walk away or to better negotiate specific (pain advoidance) points. I came accross a blog by Steve Nguyen entitled “People with a Situational Value System” in which Mr. Nguyen, using observations from the hospitality industry, points out one of his warning signs- people that treat the wait staff poorly while behaving perfectly civily with their dinner guests.
After reading his article I guess I need to take all my new prospects out to lunch!
Bob,
Great post. Well said. Good article.
Tim
I couldn’t agree more. I was a waitress all through college and have encounter an array of characters along the way. Most people, I agree, are kind hearted and respectful. Unfortunately, it only takes one rude, cheep or over baring individual to negatively effect someone’s day. Lucky, the solution is simple, cliché, and true: “treat people the way you want to be treat,” not just the ones you maybe trying to impress over lunch. If I may quote Aretha, all deserve a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.