I just got off the phone with a man with whom I do business; he was calling to discuss a “fire” that that he had had to put out as a result of one of my people. I found it very interesting after quite a bit of discussion that, although he didn’t say it, he just wanted to be heard.

This is a very powerful muti-multimillionaire who basically just got his feelings hurt, and he wanted someone involved to really hear him. I find it so interesting that men in particular, but business people in general, want to believe that business is devoid of emotions, but things like this happen all the time.

Maybe my sensors are a little more tuned into this, or maybe I bring this out in people a little more than most, but I think it’s there for those who choose to pay attention. It’s amazing how a business relationship can progress when you can talk about the numbers and the “real stuff.”

I’m always reminded at times like this that on the other end of honest and caring confrontation you arrive at intimacy and that intimacy is available in business relationships as well.

As a final note, the other day a friend of mine said he sought solid relationships with people with whom he did business to the level where they would be the people that would attend his funeral. I thought this was a cool way to think about it. Don’t forget, sometimes it just takes a caring ear to solve big problems.