Make sure to do business with Clients not Friends

A fascinating thing happen to me today. A long distance friend who I liked and enjoyed his friendship cut me off after I decided not to provide services to him.

My take is that he was upset that I wouldn't work with him and he lashed out and said he wouldn't be my friend. What a crock! I have had similar situation's happen in the past but not in a business related scenario. I have had friends who just seem to have taken advantage of me and I had to finally cut it off. It was not my intention to cut my friend of but just not have him count on me for any services.

While I am doing nothing more that conserving my time for what I need to get done rather than giving it all away. I somehow get a swift kick in the teeth for doing what I thought was right.

I guess thats why they always say to be careful doing business with anyone who is your friend, because the don't mix. This taught me a lesson which I have gone thru in the past. Keep friends and finances apart, that's good business thru and thru.

Luckly, I am not taking any of it personally simply because I know that the issue is in the perception and not in the truth. The truth is I gave, I supported my friend as best I can. I tried to raise their know how and it just didn't work out, and you learn from it… right?

So SEM Deconstructed.. if your doing a JV, Affiliate effort or alike… set the business straight first of all then build on the sucess of the business with a strong business friendship. This makes it easy to say no, walk away from a deal if it doesn't make sense and not have any bad feelings over it.