Burning Bridges

One thing I have learned in life is that you never burn bridges. It doesn't matter if you hate someone or something you just never know. Every employer I have worked for I can look dead in the eye and not that I would may in the future have to call on them for a favor. Life throws us funny curve balls and the best is to walk away with a smile no matter what you think internally.

A little over a year ago my business partner and I got screwed by a hokey pokey transport company. We moved some stock from the factory and his truck was inadequate for the load and received a ticket for over loading. This was not our problem as we gave him the weights but he wouldn't deliver the goods until we paid the ticket. He held our stock to ransom and we had no choice.

We offered to pay the ticket as we knew if we paid withing 14 days it was half price. That is how it works if you know people like we do. He refused as we expected he was making extra from the ticket and would pocket half of it as extra profit. A sly bastard that you would never talk to again possibly and would never use his services again that is for sure.

Well today he phoned me asking for a favor and I didn't hang up on him but listened. He wanted to buy stock from us paying cash of course for one of his clients. Business is quiet so I see this as a gift horse from not burning the bridge when in my youth I probably would have.

My business partner is still a little hot head some times and he agreed immediately to supply at the right price so we can make back what we were screwed over and more from future orders. Cash is the only way it will work as the trust has gone and that part will never be rectified. I may be a fool with some things but I am not brain dead.

In the past I have given people second chances as an employer only if I saw some value in the person. Not everyone is a bad egg and pressure can make people do things they wouldn't normally. Times and circumstances change though for all of us.

I can imagine there are going to be millions of people who will be retrenched after this Covid story comes to an end. Many would have burned their bridges with previous employers or even work colleagues which is rather stupid. It may be difficult at the time but one must never let emotion take over as you never know as those old doors you passed through once before could be your only hope right now.

I am way past that stage though and why I work for myself as I had enough of sucking toffee in Blue Chip companies. I think I would rather do anything than have to go back, but I am sure many people will have already picked up the phone to see if there are any prospects at their old haunting grounds. Many wont be able to though as like the majority of people I know they let their mouth do the talking before they think what they are going to say.