You're No Donald Trump

“This isn’t personal. It’s just business.”

Those words still ring in my head following a tough budget negotiation in September.

Unfortunately that’s standard procedure for some. If you fall in this category or have found yourself saying similar words recently, here’s an insight: You’re no Donald Trump.

Business is as much a personal, emotive statement as anything we do. The companies and individuals who understand this rule flourish, and the ones who don’t? Well, they may prosper but it is usually on the backs of someone else. Rarely do these actions create a position in people’s mind that says, “built to last.”

Depending on how you view the world, a majority of business people are decent, caring and understanding. They’re friends, friends of friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc. It may not always seem that way in a dispersed world. But don’t be fooled. Your circle of influence is a lot tighter and more transparent than even you may realize.

Your reputation depends almost entirely on performance and building customer/client loyalty, which is an incredibly difficult task without creating a personal stamp. One of the first steps, however, should be to drop the pretense and remember that it’s not ‘just business.’ It doesn’t matter whether you’re selling Internet services, stocks or job candidates.

Now, this isn’t to say that everyone who you do business with needs to be your closest friend or confidante -- or that every interaction will result in great personal connection.

As you make the rounds this holiday season, try to think personal first, business second. You’ll be amazed at the results.

If you doubt the veracity of these words, then consider a Warren Buffett line after his purchase of Borsheim’s Jewelry: “If you don’t know the jewelry, know the jeweler.”