Ever be a Nice Guy and hire someone that you think will be a great asset to the company and find that he will stab you in the back, or walk out, repeatedly? It’s very annoying.
We were getting very busy at the shop and needed help. After a couple of duds I finally met someone that seemed like he would work as hard as I do. I approached the owner when he applied and it was my desire that he hire this guy. It went very well for a while. Things picked up and he was able to handle the load. I was so pleased I actually started bringing in food to cook on the grill. Nothing like a great lunch to enhance the day. I learned things from him and visa versa. I sharpened my skills with things he brought to the job and he did as well.
The thing he could not handle was to be criticized. Products are valuable and at one point he was wasting that. When I brought this to his attention he walked out on me, twice. With a big smile and leaving me in the weeds. I did not raise my voice, I simply mentioned that he shouldn’t waste and he walked out. The owner said that it was his pride. I hurt it. Now I am in the weeds and he is mending his pride.
His expertise was quantity, mine is quality. This appears to be my downfall because the owner took him back like he was the perennial golden boy. I took great pride in the fact that I had over 800 customers that would come to only me and that I have been working for them for over 20 years. The golden boy cranks out five times what I do, if not more, but leaves my usual customers unhappy.
He has a major commonality with the owner, the Greed Gene. Just like in the movie Wall Street. I have never had the Greed Gene, I was cursed with the Nice Guy gene. The two of them have gone off to start an empire of quick cut rate service. I am left here with my loyal customers and a bad back.
Next time you decide to be a Nice Guy and give someone a break, think twice. They might give themselves a break. The only drawback is that being a Nice Guy, we always see the good in people and never expect to be backhanded. There is no way of telling. I guess if you become a realist and expect the worst, you won’t be disappointed. Any thing better than the worst is a bonus.
We could probably avert this if we were to deliver the first backhand, but that is not in our nature. Someday they will get theirs…yeah right. I don’t think it works that way. People like them will keep on delivering a substandard product, make lots of money a step on any Nice Guy that gets in their way.
But, there is hope, isn’t there?
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