The two determining factors….
While determining the value of a vendor, an employee, a client or some other relationship, ask yourself these two questions:
1. The Hard Value: Does this entity offer superior value in terms of price, quality, responsiveness, availability, responsibility? If it is a product, does it offer the right functionality, ease of use, features, quality and reliability for the price? If it is a customer, is the remuneration or strategic value commensurate with my services? And if it is a relationship, does it give me the dependability, the security, the comfort, the return, etc for what I put into it?
2. The Soft Value: Do I feel good about the relationship with this entity?
Only when these two factors seem fulfilling are you likely to be associated long term with that entity…
One thing’s certain…. There is nothing like a perfect relationship… If your past experiences are to be traced, you will possibly regret having given up on some… The reason you gave up on them back then was more than likely your emotional or impulsive frame of being at that point in time!
And you do not want to commit the same mistake over and over!!!
Therefore, whether you are the determiner or the determined, take a moment to place yourself in the shoes of the other person to evaluate what’s working and what needs work….
Both factors can be improved… All it takes is honesty, openness and the desire to make it right… for most times, it is far less costly to fix than it is to start over!
If however, the baggage of this relationship supersedes the total value, it is best you walk away!!!
