Burning Bridges & Building Toll Booths

If you're an entrepreneur, it's likely that you've got a fair bit of walter-mitty-wide-eyed-optimism in you. Generally speaking, you tend to feel like things are going to work out for the best. And, I'll bet that if you feel that way, things generally do turn out for the best.

But, I'll also bet there are one or two people, one or two deals, and one or two ideas that never quite seem to come true. And even though they never come true, if you're like me, you never quite give up on these people, deals, or ideas.

 Over the years, I've been fortunate to have quite a few people, businesses and idea come true. I've also built a small (but not small enough) list of businesses, ideas, and people that I should lovingly set aside. But time and time again, whenever I get a call, I jump in with both feet, lend my expertise and ideas to the project, and most times, everybody makes money.... except me.

In my more cynical moments, I say things like, "That's it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. I'm dumping that loser of an idea and never going back to it. I'm never going to take so-and-so's call again."

And then I figure that just to be sure I don't stick my hand in the blender another time, I figure maybe I'll call or write a scorching email, so that the next time I even think about that person, company, or idea, they wont take my call! 

Yep. I'll just burn that bridge so I'm never tempted to try opening that door again.

But, for better or worse, I never do that. It runs against my sense of wide-eyed-optimism, and I bet it runs against yours too.

SO, what I've started doing instead of burning bridges, is I install Toll Booths.

"Hey, Larry! It's great that your new blog is going so well. I'm glad I was able to get on the phone with you for 45 minutes and walk you through exactly how to set that up. Really and truly, it was my pleasure to do for free what most people pay for. After all, business consulting is my profession. It is, as they say, What I Do. And now that you've had an awesome, Free Sample of my work, I hope you'll think of retaining my services the next time you need advice about Blogging, Online Business, Digital Marketing, or anything else you'll need to get your project off the ground and keep it going. I would love to be your consultant, and I'm proud of the value I bring to any business situation."

See? I haven't burnt the bridge, I've built a Toll Both. Larry knows he can call me anytime for advice. He knows that I can break down business ideas, strategies and tactics as well as, if not better than, anybody in the industry. But most of all, Larry knows that if he wants to cross this particular bridge again, he's going to pay the toll, just like everybody else.