Become An Emotionless Business Person

Often, when speaking to clients and others who ask or listen I find myself constantly reminding someone: “Don’t take it personal, it’s just business”. There isn’t much room for emotions in a successful business person.

When I say become emotionless I’m speaking of the processes of business and not your purpose. If you started a company that builds a better seatbelt because you lost a loved one to a faulty seatbelt that’s fine. If you vowed to have your company voted as the number one place to work by your staff, more power to you. If you feel the current conditions of our planet are horrible and decide to have the greenest firm who only does business with other green entities, I thank you. All of that is wonderful and you certainly can succeed.

When I speak of processes I’m referring to your everyday decision making not reasons for founding or our goals. Expecting others to participate in or support your efforts because you think it’s a good thing to do is emotional. Not hiring, working with or firing someone because they don’t like you, or you don’t like them is emotional. Now if you don’t like the way they handle business matters (break/bend the rules etc) that’s different. I had a tax consultant who worked for me for several years and didn’t like me. I could’ve fired her and replaced her easily. But I didn’t have a reason to. She did excellent work for our clients, was prompt, knowledgeable and respectful. I never asked her or any of the co workers she told why she didn’t like me because it hadn’t become an issue. As a manager there are always issues. What’s more shocking is having the occasional client who doesn’t like me. But I admire anyone who will pay money and have to put their feelings aside to do what they feel gives them a good chance to accomplish a goal.

Like I stated earlier you’ll do yourself a favor when you realize it’s just business. Stop taking everything personal. No matter how wonderful your idea, business, event is doesn’t mean someone is rejecting you if they choose not to participate. Yes sponsoring your event will give someone’s business a tax deduction. And when we’re doing a client’s tax return or reconciling their books, they will get a lecture if they told us they have an expense because it was a tax deduction. ALL legitimate expenses are tax deductions, so we will find something else to spend the money on.

If a family member or friend doesn’t invest in your business doesn’t mean they wish you ill or hating on you. There can be a number of reasons. One could be they don’t have the money you think. Your track record (I know that’s a tough one) may give them pause. This person may not like/understand your industry. They may fear what a business relationship will do to your personal relationship. I could add so many more reasons.

Also, don’t think because you aren’t asking someone for money they should be so eager to help. You may want someone to volunteer time. For some busy people time is their smallest resource. Or you may ask someone to donate services. To a small business owner time is money. Yes I can ask BIC to run off 10K pens for some charter schools and they could do it in a few minutes without blinking. But asking an event planner with no staff to plan your event for free is a much bigger burden. No matter who we are there are only 24 hours in a day. So asking someone to devote “time” to do something for you can be asking them to miss 20-30% of their income for that period.

What I’m saying here is think with your brain and not your heart. Subtract the likes/dislikes and add what makes sense, for your business, your co workers and your clients. When you would like someone to do something ask yourself what’s in it for them. Many times the answer isn’t money.