CONDITIONAL UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT

"If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life."

Oscar Wilde, 19th century Irish poet/dramatist.

There are those who will be there for you when you need them, just not all who say they will, every time.

Be certain who will before you need them to be.

BE, NOT BEING

"The easiest kind of relationship for me is with ten thousand people. The hardest is with one."

Joan Baez, 20th/21st century American folk singer.

Because a "relationship" is about much more than the number of people in it.

Look at it this way.

When you walk down the street, through an airport, or while sitting in a movie or a ball park, are you in a "relationship" with the hundreds, maybe thousands of others also there?

Unlike our social media encounters, at least in all those situations, you and all the people are actually, physically together.

Using the loosest definition of the word, I suppose any connection between two or more individuals could be defined as a "relationship", however not in the way Ms. Baez intended.

True relationships require both parties to actually be together rather than simply being together.

THE VALUE OF "LIKED"

"One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives."

Euripides, 4th century BC Greek tragedian.

And worth one hundred thousand social media "friends".

There's nothing virtual about real friends.

WHEN NO ONE ELSE STANDS WITH YOU

"Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) British author.

It's easy to be successful when you are successful.

You might want to give thought to what you'll do when you're not.

DO YOU KNOW WHO'S WHO?

"Man is the only animal which esteems itself rich in proportion to the number and veracity of its parasites."

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish writer.

You know; all those people you think love and respect you.

Some do but many others only look at you as a means to their end.

By definition your true friends are a much smaller group.

Social media all you want but don't use it to measure who'll be there for you when you most need them.

MUCH MORE THAN THE NAME

"There is a scarcity of friendship, but not of friends."

Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) British clergyman and author.

How appropriate in this day of Facebook "friends".

Don't be fooled; many, maybe most of yours, are not to you nor you to them.

Strive for friendship not friends.

SUNSHINE OR NOT

"False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade."

Christian Nevell Bovee (1820-1904) American author/lawyer.

Notice he said "false friends".

Your real friends will be there for you, sunshine or not.

Just be certain as to who they are and are not.

I FRIEND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU

"Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends."

Alexander Pope (1688-1744) English poet/satirist.

A bit pessimistic, I know, however the core message is valid.

Pick your friends carefully and none more so than those in social media.

WE'RE ALL IN THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS BUSINESS

"Absence blots people out. We really have no absent friends."

Elizabeth Bowen

20th century Anglo-Irish novelist/short story writer

Whether or not we have absent friends depends upon the definition of "absence", and now that I think of it, as well the definition of "friends".

However, when it comes to business there is no doubt.

If you are "absent" from your customers you are not their "friend".

And by "friend" I don't mean in the "Let's go have a beer together" sense.

Absence may make the heart grow fonder but it won't keep your customers.

DOING THE UNDOABLE

"When one is trying to do something beyond his known powers it is useless to seek the approval of friends. Friends are at their best in moments of defeat."

Henry Miller

20th century American author

Because being beyond your known powers means the only conclusion your friends can reach is that you will fail.

Maybe so, maybe not.

Consider what they have to say but don't base your decision solely on that.

BFF (OR A DAY, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST)

"Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant."

Socrates

4th century BC Greek philosopher of Athens

Excellent advice in these Facebook days of "friends".

WILL YOU BE SINGING OR WEEPING?

"When two friends have a common bank account, one sings and the other weeps."

Proverb

So, thinking of going into business with a friend?

Those who advise against it do so for good reason.

Just remember you are partners first, friends second.

Who Do You Trust?

"A good friend is my nearest relation."

Thomas Fuller

17th century British clergy/author

When it comes to business, would you more trust a blood relation or a good friend?

It's Lonely At The Top

"The courts of kings are full of people, but empty of friends."

Seneca
Roman Philosopher

Yet another quote from our friend Seneca, who in the first century before the birth of Christ, could see how lonely it is for leaders, be they kings, CEO's or department heads.

How do you handle the blurred lines between business and friendship?

Business Relations: Friends First, Second Or At All?

"A friendship founded on a business is a good deal better than a business founded on a friendship."

John D. Rockefeller

What makes good friends may not make good business partners with the reverse being true as well.

Would (have) you go into business with a friend?