Something we’d been reluctant to do again is employ friends…
We had our fingers burnt a couple of times when we had the retail store model, with stealing.
The first stole £1,500 of products & sold them on eBay, and the next was pocketing cash transactions, instead of putting them through the till.
Both were caught red handed. Which was pleasing but not satisfying.
It saddened me to see people we trusted take from us without a thought.
Since, we’ve steered well clear of employing people we know. Even after transforming the business into an office technology solutions company.
This was until we had an emergency & needed a trusted technical person to help us install 60 photocopiers over a 4-week period.
We didn’t have time to interview, and there was only 1 person we trusted with the right expertise. The problem? He was 1 of my best & closet friends.
After we talked it through & procrastinated overnight. We agreed he’d be a nailed-on fit for the team, and we could trust him with our life. So, why not?
People naturally warm to him. He’s got an infectious personality & the team will love him. He’d make our perfect technical manager.
Lucky for us, he agreed to join.
We spent the 1st month on the road installing copiers, had loads of fun, met loads of interesting folk & learned some amazing things.
At times, it felt like Peter Kay & Paddy McGuinness acting out scenes from ‘Max & Paddy’s Road to Nowhere’ TV series.
…what did we learn? There are some friends you can always rely on.
