Emotion doesn’t work, in the business arena, give it up.

Emotions get in the way of making good business decisions! It’s a fact that everyone knows, but no one lives by. Throughout my time here at Second Wind, I have had the chance to develop relationships with dozens of business owners, who are all experiencing problems with their business in one way or another. They all come on board with an understanding that they have a problem, and in order to get out of the debt that is crushing their business, they are going to have to make certain concessions and difficult business decisions.

Yet there always comes a point in the workout, when a vendor just absolutely cannot be paid, or an unnecessary employee needs to be let go, and the business owner’s emotions block them from making the right decision.

There is nothing wrong with this business owner; they are doing what most people would do in their situation. They are human and therefore feel emotions that are good most of the time, but sometimes cloud their judgment.

The way I explain to my clients that they need to push through their emotions and make a pragmatic decision about their business is to relate business to sports. It’s all a game with winners and losers. A vendor who you cannot afford to pay can be compared to a player on the other team. You may have a close personal relationship and be great friends off the field, but when the game is on the line you have to do whatever it takes to come out victorious.

Keep this in mind the next time a difficult business decision comes up, and make that pragmatic decision that benefits you and your company!