Symbolics.com

I'm Sorry

We all screw up.
All of us.

I messed up last night… with a little business deal.
This is a lesson in being honest and “up front” in everything you do.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?

Here is what happened:

I play the drums.  Many of you know that.  I drum at church 3 nights per week… I love it.
I’m building a recording studio at the house.

Me Drumming

Step one is to sell my electronic practice kit, and buy a really nice acoustic drum set (acoustic drums are the real ones you see everywhere).

We’re going soundproof the room, buy recording tools and software etc. etc.
Step one, swap drum sets.

I posted my electronic kit online and someone 2 hours away offered a trade.
Their Pearl Drums for my electronic drums.  Sure.  Sounds Good.
He told me of the little blemishes on his kit, and it was set.
I paid for his gas and he drove the entire way here.

When he got here and unloaded the drums, I instantly knew they weren’t what I wanted.  We talked and he set the kit up and I was feeling “woozy”.
What have I done?  I’ve ruined this guys night, he drove all the way here… he loves my set and I don’t want his.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

What I did was exactly what I should have done.

I was 100% honest with him.

I told him his drums just weren’t exactly what I wanted.
I explained how horrible I felt for the situation and I offered 3 solutions:

1. You can tell me “tough crap” and you can do the swap anyways.  I would understand and totally be ok with it.  Your call.  This is my mistake not yours.

2.  I can write you a check for your troubles, and give you money for ruining a night of your life… we forget the swap and you go home with money for a night wasted.

3.  We can compromise.  This is my fault.  100%.  I admit that.  I just want to make this right — any way possible.

After discussing it, he actually felt bad that I wasn’t happy, and he didn’t want to leave with me upset.  We agreed that I would sell him my electronic kit for 1/2 price — just to make it work… and I’d keep only part of his drum set — the part that I think I can resell.
I gave him an incredible deal in order to make it right.  He was appreciative.

The point?

It goes back to the BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS post from earlier this month:

http://symbolics.com/relationships-are-key-in-business-are-we-building-them/

Are we being fair?  Are we being ethical?  When things go wrong, are we willing to “take a big hit” to make things work? 
Are we building relationships or are we focused on the dollar?

I made a mistake.  I admitted it.  I did everything I could to make it right.  The other party is very happy now… I gave them a deal.  I took a “hit”. 

We’re all human.  We’re all little people. 

Is the bottom line THE BOTTOM LINE?

Or is there more?

If you didn’t get a chance, see this post from last week:

http://symbolics.com/youre-small-time-im-small-time-heres-a-reality-check-video/

I wanted to tell you today, that honesty and relationships and “doing what it takes to make it right” are the foundations of business.
ANY business.
Dot Coms.  Cars.  Clothes.  Real Estate.
ANY business.

I was honest with my new friend, and we compromised — and remedied the situation I put us in.

Be honest.
Be upfront.
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

There’s more than the bottom line.  It’s not everything.  It’s not the only thing.
The people involved are more important than the profit/loss.

PS:  Curious about the drum set I walked away with?

Well, I put new drum heads on it, and tuned it. 

Here it is:

Pearl Drum Set

Not bad huh

Have a great day.

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