by Greg Hague
If you do enough business, you will have disputes . . . honest disagreements over an invoice, a promise, or quality of work. Disputes also arise in friendship and marriage.
With disputes you have three choices:
1) Fight
2) Ignore
3) Settle
As a lawyer, I’m inclined to say fight, but that would be lousy advice. Fighters are losers. It’s financially, emotionally and reputationally stressful, and potentially ruinous.
Fighting is more about ego than good common sense.
Of course, you could ignore your disputes. But disputes are problems, and problems grow over time.
Ignorance can be costly.
If you’re smart, you’ll settle. Whether in business, friendship or marriage, it’s the smart move.
But to settle, you must reset your frame of mind from what you honestly believe you deserve to what you can live with.
Settlement involves disappointment. You must be willing to accept disappointment . . . to walk away with less than you think you deserve.
Today’s Takeaway:
Settlement isn’t fairness, it’s a dose of disappointment and good common sense.
