matthewheinzel.com

Obviously the first questions anyone asks themselves when presented with a job opportunity are:

• Can I do the job?
• Do I have time for it?
• Will I make a boatload of money?

These are all extremely important and relevant questions, but the inquisition should not stop there. Two more questions could render your answers to your first three utterly superfluous.

Am I building a positive relationship or destroying one?

Though it may not be a common occurrence, jobs you take may cause a rift in a current relationship. If you see this possibility, it is time to dust off the relationship scale. Be careful when you weigh the pros and cons, do not overestimate the possibilities of a new relationship, chances are it will never equal a quality one you have spent years building.

Do I want to work with this client/company?

There are unlimited factors that can turn a working relationship into a waking nightmare. Maybe you don’t agree with how they run their business, maybe they are always late or absent from meetings, maybe they don’t laugh at your jokes. Whatever it is, be sure you evaluate every red flag that waves in front of your eyes.

Another factor to choosing the people you work with is your long term reputation. Does this client/job fall into the image and mission you are attaching to your business? Will it cast a negative shadow on you even in the far future? These are a few sub-questions you should use to evaluate your future work relationships.

Deuce -Matthew