When enough is enough.

[GerardoG]

Good morning TRF. What a Monday. Only 10:38am here...and what a ride this has already been.

As you remember, I agreed to help very close people with one of their businesses. The company was doing ok to good; and my job is to step it up. Last week, a yearly analysis was made and some very interesting things popped up.

-Internal organization on projects I managed was fixed -as long as I managed them-, still a mess if no one oversees them.

-Sales have increased in over 85% BUT...

-We have lost over 25% of received orders due to lousy management (jobs I was not in charge of); even with PO's in hand.

-Capabilities on projects that were brought on the table could have brought sales volume to exceed 300%; but management decided to loose them in the most embarrassing way: by simply failing to issue proposals (they neither apologized to the customer nor issued requested proposals; they just did not show up).

-Even with on hand commitments and PO's, and while still working at projects they would drop the ball to pursue projects from 'friends'; even when those new jobs represented under 7% of the current job.

As I drove to their office this morning (they choose not to show up on monday mornings, sometimes even monday at all!) which is a nice one hour ride; I made a stop halfway and turned around.

What is the point of trying to fix things if they just do not care? Sales are up; sales could be through the roof...but they do not care! Is there a financial commitment? Yes. Is it worth it? No. Just a small amount to make this 'business' not just friendship. On top of that, that amount (three digits) is seldomly deposited on time; it can be anywhere from 3-4 days late to 2 months late.

Professionally, I am not the kind of person that would just drop everything and turn around (even though I feel I would be perfectly fine doing so!); but why bother make the commute when I can do this from one of our offices or from home?

Will I keep pushing? Yes, I am no quitter; but I do believe enough is enough...at least from the commute side.

Sorry, TRF. Needed to share with someone, and since my dearly knows them; I can not fully express what goes on (I keep VERY separate business and friendships. This is something I believe in and will never ever change. Tough things at work are temporary, but friendships can be damaged by words).

So, back at home office. Time for a nice, big cup of coffee; smooth jazz and answering e-mails...while keeping a very close eye to my passion....yes, this!

Have a fantastic week and thank you for your time!!!

[GradyPhilpott]

Hey Gerardo!

I'm having a case of déjà vu.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Hey Gerardo!

I'm having a case of déjà vu.

[MonBK]

Want my advice G.............................screw them.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Want my advice G.............................screw them.

LOVE that advice!

[Wesley Crusher]

As they saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but can’t force it to drink.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

As they saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but can’t force it to drink.

Then you shoot the horse and make Filet Mignon!

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Then you shoot the horse and make Filet Mignon!

Or a nice pair of shell cordovan shoes.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

As they saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but can’t force it to drink.

So true!

Originally Posted by MonBK

Then you shoot the horse and make Filet Mignon!

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

Or a nice pair of shell cordovan shoes.

[TheVTCGuy]

Gerardo, you need an assistant; I’m on my way.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Gerardo, you need an assistant; I’m on my way.

Thank you, Paul! I knew you would step in!

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Then you shoot the horse and make Filet Mignon!

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

Or a nice pair of shell cordovan shoes.

You can have both!

G- Preserve the friendship. It’s worth more than a business they don’t care much about anyway.

[Rolex addict]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Then you shoot the horse and make Filet Mignon!

I had a horse burger in France a few years ago. Pretty tasty.

[bdex75]

Frustrating G and pretty much my life. My charge for the firm that I work for is to go out and get our clients to sell our product to their clients. Once I sell them on selling their clients my product (which I generally have to do) it is handled by at least 3 different departments at my firm before we can deliver said product and get paid (me included). And it seems most of the time that one of the other areas tends to drop the ball somewhere. I have staff that is charged with keeping it going the right direction and they stay busy as heck. What is the most frustrating to me is that the ones that drop the ball get paid the same (100%) if we complete the sale or not. And they wonder why we get paid well to sell. The resentment is part of the issue at times but overall it is just a lack of “giveashit”.


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[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

You can have both!

G- Preserve the friendship. It’s worth more than a business they don’t care much about anyway.

Originally Posted by Rolex addict

I had a horse burger in France a few years ago. Pretty tasty.

....ohboy....

Originally Posted by bdex75

Frustrating G and pretty much my life. My charge for the firm that I work for is to go out and get our clients to sell our product to their clients. Once I sell them on selling their clients my product (which I generally have to do) it is handled by at least 3 different departments at my firm before we can deliver said product and get paid (me included). And it seems most of the time that one of the other areas tends to drop the ball somewhere. I have staff that is charged with keeping it going the right direction and they stay busy as heck. What is the most frustrating to me is that the ones that drop the ball get paid the same (100%) if we complete the sale or not. And they wonder why we get paid well to sell. The resentment is part of the issue at times but overall it is just a lack of “giveashit”.


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EXACTLY!

[BBL]

G - I'm sorry about your frustrations!
Possible idiom applies here: Quit while you're ahead. :-)
DM

[BNA/LION]

Cutting one's losses is Not quitting. You have honestly Recognized the issues, showed legitimate fixes that provided positive financial ROI and others are not responding to findings in a professional manner. So, time to move on, cut your losses and work with people who share your same business/marketing accumen. All The Best to you G!

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

Thank you, Paul! I knew you would step in!

Uh... Gerardo.... should I have turned left at Cujarca?

[Thatguy]

Originally Posted by BNALION

Cutting one's losses is Not quitting. You have honestly Recognized the issues, showed legitimate fixes that provided positive financial ROI and others are not responding to findings in a professional manner. So, time to move on, cut your losses and work with people who share your same business/marketing accumen. All The Best to you G!

I would have to agree with this.

If they are receiving POs and not taking the money handed to them then there is not much you can do. That seems to be a pretty simple fundamental business practice.


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[Chewbacca]

GG,

buy their business.

de nada,

Sr. Chewbacca

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by BBL

G - I'm sorry about your frustrations!
Possible idiom applies here: Quit while you're ahead. :-)
DM

Bingo!

Originally Posted by BNALION

Cutting one's losses is Not quitting. You have honestly Recognized the issues, showed legitimate fixes that provided positive financial ROI and others are not responding to findings in a professional manner. So, time to move on, cut your losses and work with people who share your same business/marketing accumen. All The Best to you G!

Thank you for the words, L!

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Uh... Gerardo.... should I have turned left at Cujarca?

it was a RIGHT turn!

Originally Posted by Thatguy

I would have to agree with this.

If they are receiving POs and not taking the money handed to them then there is not much you can do. That seems to be a pretty simple fundamental business practice.


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It is INSANE!

-'Here is a PO with 7 digits. Please take my money'
-'Thank you....now, lets make a big mess so we have to cut 20-30% off that figure'

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

GG,

buy their business.

de nada,

Sr. Chewbacca

Thank you!

[RW16610]

You've done your best, G. Some people just don't have what it takes to survive in the business world. The things they're doing (or fail to do repeatedly) points in that direction as far as I'm concerned.

It's not quitting in my books! Actually, after the first post you made about this a few months back I'm shocked you stuck with them this long LOL. It reminds me of that silly show Bar Rescue, with that guy Jon Taffer. There's a good chance most or all of that show is set up for TV but those types of negligent business owners are very real. The frustration he at times expresses on there makes sense.

You can't help someone that doesn't truly want to be helped. Luckily some folks out there might genuinely want the help from an experienced consultant like yourself with so much knowledge / insight to share. On to the next one!

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by RW16610

You've done your best, G. Some people just don't have what it takes to survive in the business world. The things they're doing (or fail to do repeatedly) points in that direction as far as I'm concerned.

It's not quitting in my books! Actually, after the first post you made about this a few months back I'm shocked you stuck with them this long LOL. It reminds me of that silly show Bar Rescue, with that guy Jon Taffer. There's a good show most or all of that show is set up for TV but those types of negligent business owners are very real. The frustration he at times expresses on there makes sense.

You can't help someone that doesn't truly want to be helped. Luckily some folks out there might genuinely want the help from an experienced consultant like yourself with so much knowledge / insight to share. On to the next one!

you are so....RIGHT! I just re-read my post! Here I am, still trying to fix the un-fixable!

[RW16610]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

you are so....RIGHT! I just re-read my post! Here I am, still trying to fix the un-fixable!

Yeah! These people fail to realize they've got you there for a reason. If they're not willing to cooperate or comply, too bad. The stress isn't worth it for them having no desire to save the business. For now they might be above water but with that mentality, good luck! Nothing to feel guilty about in regards to walking away from this mess.

[swils8610]

I’m all for helping someone in Biz...but if they aren’t willing to help themselves I’d move on. And have in the past. It’s not quitting in my book. It’s turning unproductive time into productive time. Just my 2 cents.


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[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by RW16610

Yeah! These people fail to realize they've got you there for a reason. If they're not willing to cooperate or comply, too bad. The stress isn't worth it for them having no desire to save the business. For now they might be above water but with that mentality, good luck! Nothing to feel guilty about in regards to walking away from this mess.

Originally Posted by swils8610

I’m all for helping someone in Biz...but if they aren’t willing to help themselves I’d move on. And have in the past. It’s not quitting in my book. It’s turning unproductive time into productive time. Just my 2 cents.


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Thank you!