Rachel Goodchild Writes

It’s funny how often our personal and private lives work in parallel. I wrote on my dating blog today about how important it is to represent yourself on a date as honestly as you can- so as to be liked for who you are, rather than for who you think you should be.

To be honest, it’s the same in business, particularly when working with a range of clients. While I’m a big believer in finding a common meeting point with anyone I talk to, which can mean one facet of my personality may show more with one contact than another, it’s so important to talk to clients, contacts and “bosses” (for lack of a better word) with honesty and respect. I might show a different side to different clients, but it’s all me they see- not a persona.

It goes both ways however. I recently let go of a very very dear project to me when it became clear one of the chief people owning the company showed a basic lack of respect for the work I had, until that moment, so gladly done for the company.

I’ve never worked for someone because of the money. In fact, I’ve let a few high paying jobs go because I can’t work for something or someone I don’t believe in. I think, as I chose to write for my career, that I can choose to use that gift or talent to do as much good stuff as I can. I guess it’s the true limitation of my talent. Give me a cause, a person, a goal to believe in and I’m there. Otherwise my words stumble upon each other and I’m found lost, and without any joy in my work.

I think a little respect goes a long way. Talking to people like you care about them covers up a whole other measure of rights and wrongs. And people will always work harder for someone who both respects and is respected.