Being Real Is Your Working Capital
I remember few years ago, not long into my life as independent consultant, I got my first billing issue with a firm that I partnered with on an overseas project. After a few weeks’ sweating abroad, I happily submitted my invoice, but only to find out their denial of the terms in our initial consensus.
Mind game
I was shocked because I was made believed that it was a genuine partnership by their early talks, and I allowed it to be a hand-shake project without contract. I paid a price for my single-sided fuzzy feelings, and got my first taste of the reality of business dealing.
I figure that it is just a way of life for some business peoples to use doublespeak and mind games to get an edge over other people. They play on your aspiration, fear, or greed in order to tweak your frame of mind in a way that favors themselves.
Tamed animals
Maybe it was just myself being naive from all those years in the cubicle world and easily prone to manipulation. I don’t find company politics a thrill, so as a typical technician, I was normally content with problem solving tasks.
That is not necessary a harmful thing in a corporate setting as long as you can perform. We are just tiny functions all get integrated into the big corporate structure. Our characters are not much subject to constant challenges, our personalities are somehow blended into the corporate culture, and our sense of authenticity are getting dull. It is like in a zoo, we are tamed. (Well, not sure if that applies to the senior management. Hey that is why The Office and Dilbert are popular.)
Back to the ecosystem
It is totally opposite when you go independent. You are out of the zoo and back to the natural ecosystem. You are restored back to nature state of a human being. Suddenly, you need to look at the world as the way it is. You need wisdom to steer your life and have to find principals as your anchors.
Back to the story at the beginning, I was enlightened nevertheless. I had an opportunity to recognize and choose how I should operate myself as a free agent. I was able to appreciate that being genuine and sincere is a happier path. The basic way to work with people is still the Golden Rule. Authenticity is the best way for lasting relationships.
It is not just being nice anymore…
I was told that being real or trustworthy is not only nice, it becomes an necessity. Our world is becoming super transparent and connected, and it actually matters how we conduct our business. It is a differrentiater or a competition advantage to be real to yourselves, your peers, or your clients. A book I read recently gives a very interesting account on this. The author explored this issue from a few unique angles. How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything…in Business (and in Life)