Don’t do business with your friends!
We often hear that, posing as sound advice.
“A client will become a friend quicker than a friend will become a client.”
Or “Don’t mix business and friendship.”
It’s been repeated so much, it’s almost ingrained as truth. Almost.
But I say, why not?
Many of my best friends are clients, and many of my clients have become good friends.
Why is it that we should shy away from doing business and having a social relationship with those in our lives? Why are we trying to compartmentalize, or even insulate ourselves?
To me, there is no one who will look out for your best interests better than a true friend; not one who will have your back and be loyal through thick and thin.
Maybe the problem is that we need to better define who and what is a true friend?!
How about the new axiom, don’t do business with people that you can’t have a real meaningful conversation with? Who you can’t be 100% honest with?
To me, it all comes down to the question, are you more or less likely to have that difficult conversation with someone because you know them well and fraternize?
If you ask me, discourse is NOT dead.
Healthy conversation is NOT dead.
Relationships are NOT dead.
So why not start there?
Build the relationship.
Build the trust.
Don’t violate it.
Speak honestly and from the heart, stay true to your word, and always always put clients first (as well as friends), and you’ll have no problem at all mixing business and friendship.
-J.D.