PINK FIRE - "Business IS Personal"

"This is business, don't take it personal", the lamest most unfulfilling statement made in the world of entrepreneurship.  A business has soul as much as a human, and the spirit of business is alive and kicking, so move or get bruised.  Anyone who has started a company from the ground up, feels the pulse of their business and watches it grow into life as time goes on.  A business plan is always mentioned to be a "living" document, meaning it is ever changing and growing.  Businesses die, they grow up, they live, they speak, they change, they expand, they move, just like us humans, so I will say it again, a business has soul as much as a human, and the spirit of business is alive and kicking.

Business IS personal.  A good associate of mine, Hotep authored a book entitled:  The Hustler's 10 Commandments and on commandment number 6, he states, "Business IS Personal".  Now Hotep's reasoning for stating this as one of his commandments are of his own, I would like to add my personal flare to the flame.  How many people can truly do business (at most for the long haul) with someone they despise, or do not feel totally comfortable with?  When people are in business with those they do not fully have a personal connection with, they have a broken tie hanging in the balance.  Now imagine that someone takes a contract and breaks it, or doesn't pay you what you deserve, you will take that very personal.  Watch this, I bet you won't go to an event they invite you to nor root them on when they have something good happen to them  (unless you are going to get your money of course).  Face it, Business IS Personal and when you build slight personal bonds when doing business, they do not have to be matrimonial, however slight bonds does in fact aid in the business arena. 

Taking It Personal

• When your so-called business partner does deals and has endeavors going on that you just so happen to find out about and they think you are going to continue in such a fashion.
• When your client tells you they will pay you and never intend to do so and their actions follow suit.
• When your staff complain behind your back and knock the effects of production down to a bare non-existence. 
• When your friends and family put you down or only deal with you because of what you are and are not doing to, with, and for them (when dealing in your business).
• When you are working with those who allow their own desires and passion to overpower your sense of humanity. 
• When someone says they cannot/will not pay you, but you find them purchasing something new or doing a new business endeavor around the same amount you could be compensated for.
• When someone has a product or service of yours and doesn't give you a copy of it because they choose otherwise, but still network with your business associates and staff members.
• When no one will assist you financially, resourcefully, yet tell you how talented you are and we love this one:  no one is giving funding right now.
• When people show up late or are no shows to meetings (especially when they are truly life-changing). 
• When people would rather go party and waste time at non-relevant events and endeavors than to strategize and organize a great project or production.
• When people with money, know you need assistance and call you just to shoot the breeze.
• When people micromanage you.
• When people misoverstand that you are focused on business, certain business, and then get an attitude with you because you do not have time for their nonsense.
• When people do not utilize common universal sense to effectively communicate (there are truly no excuses in THE INFORMATION AGE with text, email, skype, YouTube, morris code, phone, Internet, snail mail, two-way, drums, pigeons, hawks, etc., etc., etc.)
• When people act like they can and want to do business, keep in touch with you and nothing comes of it within a year or in some cases years.  (having business meeting after meeting and no progress)
• When people say they are going to do something and do not, then run off and leave you high and dry.
• When staff members do not take the initiative, perform research, and most importantly treat business like it is their own.
• When businesses treat consumers and staff like peons.
• When networking, and someone is focused on the wrong thing (your body/sex) so much the opportunity is missed because of biological challenges.
• When you offer assistance/service to someone and they take you for granted.
• When people sale you something useless and then want to keep doing business with you.
• When people do not follow up!

Surely there are more reasons to state that business IS personal such as when you cannot trust someone with your bank account, your child, your clothes, please do not expect to trust them with your company and business dealings.  Watch people, how they treat themselves, how they work with others and surely they will eventually do and treat you in the same manner.  When you cannot trust someone personally, you cannot trust them professionally and vice/versa.

It is very important and down right intuitive to watch how people treat and deal in their personal lives as they will mimic this same behavior, in ways in their professional lives.  People who put business over their family for a moment are just focused.  People who put business over their family always are disconnected and must consider a balance or tipping the scale, or getting rid of it all together. 

Watch people in business and see if it matches them in their personal lives, it is said time and time again, "I keep my personal life very separate from my professional one."  This sounds all fine and well pure, however there is no way in our new age society where it takes who you know and often how they know you to simply get your foot in the door.  You who say you keep your business life separate may do so in some ways, confidentiality and alter egos do exist, however, the concept is all the same. 

The reflection of your professionalism is directly from how you deal personally and in some case do not deal personally (meaning you may be abusive at home and know it is wrong so you get to the office/work and act like you are the nicest person possible).  I mean are you going to swear and drink and smoke in front of your boss or at the business meeting?  No, so yes, here you are not bringing your "personal" life to the business world.  Are you going to ask your husband/wife/child to confirm dinner via email, no, we should sometimes, but this is keeping your business acumen out of the way of home.  Sure, there must be some type of balance somewhere.  There will be months where all you can do is business and others where the family stays on top, but they will coincide and it will come up in your professional life, what effects you in your personal one.  These Siamese twins are different yet stuck together for medical purposes.  Face it, or in this context head or body it. 

When you see a male/female "acting" business-like during the day and all Vegas-risque' at night, they are living a double life and that is fine, however it will catch up and it will need to be brought into perspective as it can only last so long before it wears them out or someone finds out.  The faithful husband/wife, poses to be more loyal to their employers, the dedicated worker doesn't mind putting in a little extra when dealing in personal relationships, the slacker is a slacker no matter where they are and if they are slacking at the job and performing like a champ at home, they may want to consider a stay-at-home position.  This looks bad in business to see, experience and deal with slackers, so send them home to be the champ they are when they are not at work.  Yes, remember take this personal.

Business is personal and is a living entity, with a soul, a pulse, and growth, so to the owners, raise your business how you expect it to grow and it will always flourish after this manner (even when it closes down).  Staff members, ask your employer to make you partner, but first, act partnerish and when they do not, make arrangements to go where your value out does their passion and desire. 

- The Personal Biz