The Cost of Mixing Sympathy With Business: Lessons From My Mistakes

I have learned that good intentions alone cannot run a business. In my printing and publishing work, I often hired friends and relatives because I wanted to help them, even when they lacked the training or capacity for the roles. The result was missed expectations, poor output and me carrying most of the workload. I also made the mistake of taking on professional and political media jobs without clearly agreeing on my fees, scope of work or expected reward. Excitement, sympathy and a willingness to help repeatedly led to unpaid work and unrealistic demands. I now understand the importance of setting boundaries. Every business owner and professional should define job roles, terms and fees from the beginning. Helping people is good, but it should not come at the expense of a business or one’s livelihood.

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