“IT’S JUST BUSINESS”

This phrase frustrates me to no end. “Hey, we’re gonna have to let you go, it’s just business.”

I learned long ago, that this is total BS.

When I first started out making magazines I published a college paper called The University Reporter. I remember being so excited because the biggest nightclub owner in Denver at the time had agreed to advertise on our back cover!

I went to his office, went over everything I needed and then their in-house graphic designer said he wanted something special done with color. I said, “Sure we can do that, i think it will be $100 extra.” The owner stormed over and screamed at me that we’d agreed to a set price, and I was playing some kind of game trying to overcharge him. I assured him I wasn’t and was just passing on the actual cost for the extras he wanted. I tried to explain, but it was already too late. He ordered me out of his office and told me to, ‘Take my piece of garbage magazine’ with me (which he threw at me). I pleaded: I could make it right if he would just let me talk. It was too late, he turned his back to me and told me to ‘get the F out.” I apologized for the misunderstanding. He turned and said “Jeff, maybe to you it’s just business, but to me it’s never just business, it’s about me and you.” The door slammed in my face.

I often think about this instance. I was a recent college grad, trying to start a company and the ad was maybe $400. He was the biggest club owner in town and I am sure the $100 extra meant nothing to him. I remember trudging out of the building and to the street. By then it was night time and I had to hitchhike back to Boulder, because I didn’t own a car. I couldn’t have been more dejected. My biggest advertiser had dropped out three days before deadline.

Maybe the punishment dolled out to me didnt fit the crime, but the humble pie that had just been smashed into my face in front of a room of people taught me an invaluable lesson: Justifying anything with “Sorry it’s just business…” doesn’t excuse the person on the receiving end from the pain and suffering attached to a decision that just sent them over a guardrail and into a gorge!

I always shake my head during movies, when a gangster says to the guy he’s about to execute “Sorry, it’s just business.” That’s like my father saying to me before he spanked me “This is going to hurt me more than you.” I never quite got that one. He wasn’t the one crying afterwards! And the mafioso is certainly not the one who gets his brain splattered.

“It’s just business” is no more than an excuse to make you feel better, as you’re about to ruin someone’s day. Tough decisions have to be made in life. However, don’t fool yourself and imagine that platitudes like “it’s just business” cushions the blow. Be very aware: regardless of a disclaimer, you have wreaked havoc on someone’s world and any phrase can’t entirely excuse you.

I know a great restauranteur who says a firing should never come as a surprise. He takes it very seriously when he hires someone, and will do everything to help them succeed. He trains and supports them, striving toward a harmony where kitchen and waitstaff can flow like a dance. The customer has a great experience and restaurant and employee make money.

Of course it doesn’t always work out with every employee and some employees have to be cut. He takes it very personally and really reflects about where the breakdown occurred. Was it his training system or the work environment? Could he have done anything better to have helped them succeed? He takes his responsibility to his staff very seriously. Although firings are the last thing he wants to do, it is necessary. However. he never takes it lightly. By the time the dismissal occurs it shouldn’t be a surprise to the employee and unless they were blatantly stealing, it’s never just business.

I know a guy who screwed over a host of people for a lot of money. In fact it bankrupted some of them. I remember him saying “I have to look out for myself, that’s most important and it’s just business, they need to understand that.” Wow, it’s just business huh? Destroying lives is part of business?

I’ve had successes and failures, and it is never just business. If someone gets hurt and I created the deal you better be sure that I will do my best to lighten the blow. It might not be perfect, every deal is filled with risk, but no one can say I didn’t share the suffering and work hard or get creative to make things right.

Honor is not something you’re born with or without. We gain it and lose it with every single action or choice. You can make hundreds of great decisions in a day and make one really bad one (like driving drunk) and the universe won’t care how unfair it feels when it comes to dolling out karma.

Take your honor seriously, be aware of your intentions. We all have tough decisions to make, the key is to hold yourself accountable. It’s never JUST business.

Meditate on that…