Emotions and Decision Making

Emotions can often get in the way of good decision making. Do not let them ruin your business and you.

A few years ago we were building a project of 24 industrial flex space condominiums for small businesses like construction and remodeling companies.  We hired a man who used to be a carpenter and contractor in another state as a finish carpenter on the project.  He did a good job while working for us and we wished him well when he decided to go off on his own.

In the beginning of his new business, he made a lot of the mistakes new contractors make and consequently had a hard time getting that last payment.  Being an intelligent man he learned his lessons and has developed his business into a profitable, small enterprise which he owns today.

He drives around in a big van that is “all tricked out” with his name and pictures of jobs all over the truck.  When he passes by you know who he is.  That is fine.  It is good advertising… except for one thing.

This man, who is personable and even funny, also has a volcanic temper which he has still not brought under control.  If someone does something to displease him the top of the mountain blows off and the molten lava starts to flow.  Unfortunately for him, he even carries it into his van as he drives around town promoting himself.

If he gets annoyed by another driver for any reason, he does not hesitate to push his fist out of the window with the middle finger extended for everyone to see.  I personally think that this type of behavior is immature at best, rude to say the least and downright stupid; but in his case it is also disastrous.  He admitted to me about three weeks ago that he has gotten calls from people telling him that they would never use him after witnessing that.

If strangers can be bothered to call him to tell him that, imagine how many more just shake their heads and make a note of his name on their mental “do not call list”? 

Just last week we talked about the fact that every day you either build or destroy your brand by how you conduct yourself in front of your audience.  That audience is made up of everybody you come in contact with or just pass by in the course of your day.   Smile even when it hurts, be courteous to everyone and put your best foot forward even when it’s the last thing you want to do.  People will notice and put you on their “do call list”.

Tagged as: Business, construction, contractor, emotions, remodeling