September 10, 2010

Updated/Edited: A scathing review of assisting a "friend" with his business endeavor.

The lesson of this story for me:  Do not help friends with their business endeavors because in the end they are just too busy to help.  It may seem like a good idea at the time, but it's not.

When the proprietor of a local business asked for my help in the public relations department ,I agreed, enthusiastically, to help.  He was the husband of a friend and I thought it would be good practice for myself as I hadn't worked in a couple of years due to pregnancy and motherhood.  I did a few odds and ends for him while evangelizing his business to friends and family. 

When I called and asked if he could spend one hour with my husband to help him with a few pointers for possible job hunting , first, it took days to hear back from him.  Then, it wasn't even a phone call I got back, it was a text message that said, "Sorry for the delay.  I've got too many projects I'm working on that has resulted in reduced coaching.  I can do a quick evening call to see if that will help." 

That's the answer I got after attending his events to help out, meetings in person with him to help get the company's public relations going and I also did a semi-finished sponsorship plan that is possibly being used now to obtain sponsorship dollars(?)  I don't even know. 

Really, in the end:  Is it too much to help a friend for an hour when their family's livelihood may be at stake?  Even if you are fiercely gripping the reigns of a burgeoning business?

Note:  All events above took place this year, 2010.  I never received any compensation for my work or time with the company and did not expect to receive anything of monetary value.


Update:  Yes, apparently I am very pissed about the situation which is why I posted this on my blog.  Some people may disagree with my vehicle of venting about the situation, but that's exactly why it's my blog and not theirs.  

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