(This article was first published in the "Liu Run" public account, subscribed to the "Liu Run" public account, and 2 million readers together to gain insight into the essence of business)
In this world, we deal with "people" the most, but it is the most difficult to deal with "people".
What to do?
Win-win in the same period and gratitude across periods.
— 1 —
Win-win situation in the same period
The essence of business is trading.
The essence of trading is the exchange of value.
The principle of value exchange is a win-win situation.
Win-win is the time of cooperation, and both sides must gain value. If only one party makes money, it is based on the other party's losses, then do not do it.
So, the most I usually say is: I'm sorry.
Because, I try to ask myself to prepare the best content, arrive at the venue early, and give my partners consultation, training, and presentations in the best condition. Still, there will be people who don't work with me in the end.
If my level is not enough, I will say, sorry.
It's certainly my fault and doesn't bring you value. Allow me to keep working and wait until one day we can meet your needs.
But if... I would also say, I'm sorry. We can't cooperate for the time being.
It's like some business organizations holding "public welfare events" and inviting me to give a speech for free.
I said: You are a commercial organization, this event you sell tickets to users, it is not cheap, there are sponsors, obviously it is a "commercial activity", why is it called "public welfare"?
He said: "Although we have sponsorship for fees, we don't make money.
This is a misunderstanding of the common good, even a deliberate distortion.
If a business event that doesn't make money is a public good, then Apple's products will be public service speeches; P&G's TV commercials are public service announcements; and all failed startups are non-profit organizations.
Whether it is a public welfare, the key is to see whether to donate their own resources to help the public who have nothing to do with their own interests.
He would even say: Whoever comes to this event will come and speak with you on the same stage, and you will come to speak for free.
I said: I'm sorry. That's not how I define pro bono activities. I also don't do (with you) for free.
It's not exchange value, it's wanting to claim value for free. It's not a win-win thing.
I think there are three realms of win-win:
First, the realm of the chicken: I want to win. It's more important that you lose.
Second, the realm of the sparrow: I want to win. If you lose because of that, don't blame me.
Third, the realm of the eagle: I want to win. But you also have to win. Otherwise don't do it.
Eagles sometimes fly lower than chickens, but chickens can never fly higher than eagles.
Win-win or don't do it.
— 2 —
Intertemporal gratitude
In the same period and at the same stage, we must cooperate and win-win.
Inter-period, cross-stage things, to return gratitude.
When you are in each new stage, you must be grateful to the people who helped you in the previous stage.
I think back to when I first started my business, I first worked in the Library of Xuhui District, Shanghai. Later, I couldn't do anything, so I ran to my friend's office and borrowed a desk. There was nothing at the time and I didn't know how to do it.
So I have always been particularly grateful to my assistant (who has now been promoted to head of business), Employee 1 of Runmi Consulting, who was willing to join the company at great risk in the beginning.
To say a little more, she probably didn't know herself, there were two candidates at the time, why I chose her in the end.
The most important reason was that after she had finished speaking, another candidate next to her smiled softly. So I decided not to hire that person.
Maybe that person is very powerful, but after listening to others speak, his eyes moved elsewhere and he smiled. In that laugh, there was a hint of contempt and disrespect.
And she's sincere. True as the saying goes: sincerity is the only way to sincerity.
Say it back. So I chose her in the end, and I thank her for her willingness to work with me at the risk of the company dissolving and losing her job at any time.
At that stage, we could only "win-win", but I had nothing to repay and be grateful for, and I could only remember it for the time being.
Today, the business that may be falling at any time has matured and stabilized, which is the result of our joint efforts, and she has half the credit for it.
So I also promised her:
If you want to, as long as I'm still starting a business, you'll never be unemployed. If one day I get sick or retire and can't start a business, I'll try to recommend you to another particularly good company.
This is the only commitment I have in the whole company at the moment. This is my inter-period gratitude to her.
At least that's how I think, to be grateful for those who are willing to trust and help themselves in the first and most difficult times.
Charcoal in the snow is much more difficult than icing on the cake.
At each stage, thank you to the partners of the previous stage. In the next stage, we should also be grateful to the partners in this stage.
Final words
What is the way people get along with each other?
Some people only care about the little thing in front of them all their lives, I must take a little more, you must take a little less. Even to deceive, to steal, to rob.
It's a zero-sum game mentality where I have to win and you have to lose.
Such a person will always be a chicken, a bird, not an eagle.
Some people have only cared about their own interests all their lives, who has ever generously helped me? I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.
This is very selfish practice, without help, and is taken for granted.
Such a person may never understand, learn to teach people, earn to give to people.
I told myself, don't do that.
People get along with each other, respect each other, and achieve each other. Win-win in the same period, inter-period gratitude.
I told myself to try to do that.
Not doing well, keep up the good work.
Hope you too.