This is something I have been learning slowly, but recently the message was brought home hard.

I have sort of found myself caught in a drama between two friends. Problem is that they are both clients as well.

Instead of leaving me out of the problem and leaving my small business activities out, I have found myself dragged into the muddle.

It’s not their fault. The fact is that I thought maybe I can broker some sort of resolution, but as time goes by I don’t think this may be possible.

Now, if I seem like leaning one way, one friend/client becomes angry with me, if I lean the other it’s the same. If I don’t do anything, I’ll still be looking as if I am siding, it’s a no-win no brainer.

They are both great friends of mine. They are also clients. What happens on a personal level, also affects me on a business level.

So with this in mind, I have to decide whether to drop them as clients and keep them as friends or drop them as friends and keep them as clients.

Whatever the decision is, I think I will lose anyway.

I have learnt a big lesson that I am applying as of now.

Never mix your business relationships with your personal ones. It can put you in a tight spot.

If I had to put some rules to go with the aftermath of this situation, here it is

. 1. Never mix your business relationships with your personal ones.

2. If you do a job for a friend, make it free. 3.

If you do a job for your small business, charge your client.

4. If there are some problems in the relationship with a client who is also a friend, and you think the friend is trying to have one up on you, terminate the job and keep the friend. If they respect you for your decision, you will get the job back. If they don’t, terminate the friendship.

In the end people should respect you, you need them to respect you. If they cant make the hard choices and see the line turned tight rope you are walking between them, between them and you and between you and your dreams, then you got to make the decision.

Get off the tight rope. There is more business in the sea. But true friendship….is in limited supply.