Here's to the decent ones

Let's address the elephant in the room: business lost its ethics and remote working hasn't helped!

Something happened to me this week that never occurred to me in my 17 years of professional experience.

The prospect who invited me to a video call hung up on me!

What?

I couldn't believe it myself. But it was true. I entered the Zoom meeting, and looking at her facial expression, I must have been the 100th person she was interviewing for this consulting job. While I answered to questions, the call got disconnected.

First, I thought: the connection failed, so I dialed in again. After a 5 min wait, I thought —

Maybe something had happened? And so, I reached out directly to the prospect and her assistant. After 48 hrs of radio silence, I realized —

...she was just rude!

Breath

I don't even know where to start. There is so much that’s wrong here. Here's three to focus on:

1. Respect
2. Decency
3. Money = power

1. Respect someone else's time

Let's start with the obvious. No one's time is more valuable than anybody else's time. That is a fact. By nature, time is equal.

Respecting each other's time goes a long way in business, especially since there’s an increasing number of expertise businesses. The profession of an expert is to trade his/her expertise. The value of this trade usually is tracked by time. Think about it: instead of learning all your national and state tax laws, you call a CPA and ask him/her all your questions. Relative to learning all the rules and regulations yourself, spending $250 per hour is a worthy investment since your questions get answered immediately. This is true for branding/marketing services as well. If you decide not to work on something yourself, but instead hire somebody else to do it for you, you trade your money for time.

Now, the problem today is that many people think "knowledge" is free. They believe they can Google it. To them, I say: do it! Fail! Do it again! And eventually, call someone after you wasted your time and pay for expert advice.

2. Be decent and kind in life and business

Sadly, there is still the perception for some people that in order to become a successful businessman/woman, you must be willing to sell your own grandmother (ruthless) to make or save a dollar. But the landscape of business is changing. Collaboration and a reliable network are the new forms of currencies in business.

Today, I am making a decision: 

1. I will only work with decent and kind people.
2. Good pay doesn't blind me anymore to see someone's true character. 
3. I will spend all my energy supporting people and organizations that equally respect and strengthen all relationships.

3. Money = power

I’ve been self-employed since 2004. I know the feeling of financial uncertainty and lack of appreciation too well. I repeatedly experienced times when clients implied that I should be grateful to even have this "gig" in the first place. And it sucks! 

But the outdated mindset of “money = power” will change soon. 

Knowledge, expertise, and the ability to connect with people will matter most in the future. But talent can't be bought with "just money" anymore. Nope! Companies have to offer a sustainable purpose worth spending time to improve vs. a pure capitalistic cause, such as, "we need to make more money". People who think they can buy their way out of decency will fail.

I call out all the people/businesses that think, “creativity can't cost a dime, interns make strategies, and consultation is exchangeable for a cup of coffee” — just stop calling me! I am over it!

Outro 

Here's to the decent ones.

The misfits.

The rebels.

The troublemakers.

The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see people and the world differently.

Those who have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them,

glorify or vilify them.

But the only thing you can't do is ignore them.

Because they are the change.

They push the human race forward.

While some may see them as the crazy ones,

I see decency.

Because the people who are decent enough to see ALL people,

amidst changing the world, are the ones who make real change.

(Inspired by Apple's "Think Different” campaign)