Don't be an asshole. You will run out of toilet paper.

Hey Brian, I need to ask you a question.

What's up?

Is it true your moving your business off Main Street into the suburbs?

Yes. 

You're moving your sandwich business away from foot traffic? I don't get it. I thought that location was perfect for your product.

So did I. But after 5 years, it's my worst performing location.

I'm looking at expanding my business and as you know, good locations are hard to come by. If you're moving, I think I should talk to the landlord and build at that site.

Here's what I'll tell you. If you build out at that location, you will lose your shirt. We lost money every year there. I like you and I'd hate for you to make a big mistake. Don't do it. It's the wrong site. It looks good, but the type of foot traffic didn't deliver on sales expectations.

So the site didn't just underperform. It lost money?

Yup. Let me tell you something. If I didn't like you, I'd encourage you to go there. We could afford to mature the site with our other five locations. After 5 years of waiting for the business to grow, the only thing that grew was our frustration. 

Thanks Brian, I appreciate the honesty. I'll stay away.

Good call. Thanks for reaching out.

********Fast forward about a year**********

Steve, what's going on Main Street where Brian's sandwich shop used to be.

A speciality food market. An area developer is franchising the concept throughout the region.

Who's the area developer?

He used to develop ice cream franchises.

I know him. We've done business together. He's not a win-win type of guy.

Oh. So you don't want a franchise?

No thanks. 

That location is going to be great for a specialty market.

Maybe. Time will tell.

Do you know why Brian moved out?

No. 

I heard he wanted a bigger location.

That sounds like Brian. 

You sure you don't want one of these franchises. It's the next big thing.

It probably will be, but it'll just be one more thing I missed out. Thanks but no thanks.

Alright. If you know of anyone with money, please forward them my way.

These two conversations happened about a year apart. It's as much an observation of karma as it is glimpse into my own philosophy. I wish no one ill will. However, I wasn't willing to share information to help someone who tried to hurt me in the past. Call me an asshole, but I don't think the developer would have believed me anyway. I wonder if the developer called Brian. If so, did Brian tell him what he told me or does Brian feel the same way about him as I do? Time will tell if Brian was right or wrong.