In my experience there are two types of people in business. 1) Those who do what they say they are going to do, and 2) Those that don’t do what they say they are going to do.
To me, that is the primary way I classify people in the business world. Whether they are clients, bosses, coworkers, contractors, partners, or employees, the first question I ask myself is, does this person do what they say they are going to do?
For me, it’s as simple as that. It all comes down to whether or not a person keeps their word. And that’s the way I do business. If someone does what they say they are going to do, if they keep their word, then I’m in. I’m going to at least give that person a chance to do business with me. But if a person doesn’t do what they say they are going to do, if they don’t keep their word, then I’m out. And I won’t go forward in any business transactions with that person, no matter how appealing the business opportunity otherwise might be. In short, I don’t deal with crappy people. I don’t deal with scum.
Now, on its face, calling other people in the business world crappy and scum can seem harsh, especially if that opinion is based on one interaction. But you know what, when I deal with people who don’t keep their word I feel crappy inside. And I can’t help but think that these people who make me feel crappy are scum, at least when it comes to business.
Time is money people. And I ain’t got much time left. By actuarial standards, I’ve only got around 18,104 days left on this wonderful Earth, and by golly gosh, I’ve got to get to making some money before my time is up. I don’t have time to waste on crappy people. I don’t have time to waste on people who don’t keep their word. In my experience, every singly time I’ve dealt with a person who doesn’t keep their word it’s been a negative experience. Overall, I’ve lost money dealing with people who don’t keep their word, and the time lost and opportunity cost of dealing with these idiots has been enormous. You lose money when you deal with people who don’t keep their word, and I ain’t in the money-losing business.
So here is the first of Rothman’s Rules, don’t deal with people who don’t keep their word.
The first way I classify people in the business world who I interact with is whether or not they are a person who does what they say they are going to do, or a person who doesn’t do what they say they are going to do. More simply put, either a person who keeps their word, or someone who doesn’t. And I’m done dealing with people who don’t keep their word.
There are two types of people in business, those who keep their word and those who don’t. I only do business with the former, and I advise you to do the same.
