They were a great team. They had plenty of work. They grew sensibly. They won more work because they delivered great work.
Their future was bright.
Then one director/owner believed he was never wrong, always right.
Then the other director/owner believed she had learned all there was to learn about business.
After all, look what they had achieved in eight years!
They forgot that their people also contributed to those achievements; adjusting for strategic and tactical mis-direction; making things work that were not set up properly; delivering on impossible promises.
Soon the ego of the ownership told lies to clients, then to staff.
Trust and respect was lost for the owners by the staff, then the clients.
Talented people left.
The owners squabbled in the mess they had created, neither of them willing to accept responsibility.
Then they lost two big contracts and the bank called in their overdraft.
It was all over.
Ten years from zero to zero.
Ten years to learn that learning never stops.
Ten years to learn that ego is not your best business partner.
Ten years to learn that you can’t win on your own.
Ten years to learn how to fail.
What’s been your experience?
