Question for business owners/managers/boss types

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by beer me

Has anyone ever had to fire a friend? That's the position I find myself in soon. Any advice?

Been down this road a lot.

The best advice is to never hire a friend or family. Don't ever sell anything to friends or family either.

That being said, I hired a very good close friend almost two years ago now,(hadn't done it in 30 years) to head up the sales of a new division we started.

He was broke, divorced and unemployed, due to this economy, his age, and lack of work ethic. But the guy is a pitbull, he could sell ice to eskimos.

I sacrificed the friendship almost immediately because it was the only way it was going to work. I quit socializing with him, quit bowling/golfing with him etc. I had to do this, he showed immediately that he would try and take advantage of it.

He has done a great job finally, but it has been brutal. Kept me up a lot of nights, but he is finally getting it.

He is now making some pretty good money also, but we will never be casual friends again, as long as we both work together.

Good luck with it beer me, it is a tough position.