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A career coaching
article:
When your friend decides to start a business
by Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
Etiquette books, as far as I know, will tell you how
to behave when your friend gets married, buried, graduated, or
hospitalized.
But let's say your friend, who always seemed sensible and predictable,
tells you she's quitting her job. Sure, it's a good job, she
says, but she dreads getting up for work and she's stressed. Her
medical bills have risen along with her salary.
You suggest, as delicately as possible, that she get "professional
help." She tells you she's hired a coach and a business
consultant, and no, she isn't starting a baseball team. She has a
new business. You don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Here are a few suggestions to maintain the friendship.
1. Do
not call your friend after two weeks to ask, "So, made any money
yet?"
This will be a sore subject for the first six months or more. And
remember: dollar amounts are relative. Your friend who previously
earned ten thousand dollars a month will be ecstatic when he sees
five hundred. Dollars, that is, not thousand.
2.
Choose gifts with sensitivity.
Best bets are gift certificates at mega-stores, preferably
online, so your friend can buy anything from software to books. A
gift certificate for coaching, computer maintenance or office
supplies will be appreciated.
Dinner at a nice restaurant will go well if you can persuade your
friend to leave her beeper and cell phone at home. Just one
warning: The sight of a computer on the restaurant desktop may
trigger the urge to check for email. Remind your friend firmly:
the messages will still be waiting after dessert.
3.
Offer support when your friend feels discouraged.
"Well, you won't lose much if you pull out now" is about as
insensitive as you can get. Friendly questions include, "Are you
seeing signs of progress?" Better, take your friend to a movie
and suggest he call his coach afterward.
Whatever else, do not say anything like, "You might as well spend
the money now. You won't have more later." Or, "I heard the
person who replaced you just got another raise."
4.
Expect your friend to keep weird hours.
You just got a call at eleven o'clock at night? Or five in the
morning? Never fear, there's no emergency. Just routine business
hours for the self-employed.
5.
Allow your friend to change her mind.
Some people who start a business realize they miss corporate
life. They may decide they want to take a job for awhile, to
increase their stash of cash and gain some additional experience.
That's when true friendship comes through. Saying, "I told you
so" is a major taboo. And, "I knew you wouldn't make it" will
kill even the most solid friendship, as soon as the words are out.
I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy.
Read additional articles.
Ezine
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