< PREVIOUS LETTER   ||   SHOUTOUTS >
 

Dear Breakup Girl,

Less than a week ago, my "ex" and I broke up. He broke it off and I am going on. Pretty simple.

Due to our living in close quarters, a few buildings away, I mailed his items i.e books, coffeee mugs, etc. to him.

He called me yesterday, my birthday, wanting to return an item to me that is simply replaceable (similar to a piece of fuzz) and had asked for a return call letting him know when to bring it by. I never returned his call. In my opinion, he was either trying to get in the door to really make a jack*** out of himself just one more time or he sincerely thought I cared about the return of this piece of fuzz! Whatever his goal, I squashed it.

We had confirmed to continue doing business together. As a professional decision, I am allowing a cool-off period firsthand and we can take it from there. It will not make or break me without his business. I do appreciate that he has sent many referrals my way therefore the business relationship would be mutually beneficial.

Was I rude in mailing him his items and by not returning his call? I believe personally, I am not. I prefer to be cut and dry; after all, he was pretty emotionless about our breakup and I have no plans to wallow. I appreciate his business and he may take this as an indication of how I treat my brokers. He should know better but who knows what goes through people's minds.

-- All Business - Cheryl

Dear All Business,

Well, I don't know. The mailing part is fine, but one of the business principles I've always tried to adhere to is this: Return All Calls. (Exceptions/in-depth discussion not germane right now.) While I am all in favor of the cool-off period, you don't want your business with him to cool off because he gets the impression that you won't call a broker back if you don't feel like it. Or that you squash people's goals if you do. So call him to say thanks, but you won't be needing the fuzz. And that if he'd like to refer folks to you, lovely. In a while. After -- this part you say only to yourself -- you've let yourself smart a bit. Really. You're human. Don't let this one do a hostile takeover of your heart.

Love,
Breakup Girl

< PREVIOUS LETTER   ||   SHOUTOUTS >