Wanna sniff out a bad business partner BEFORE they self-destruct and take you down in flames? John Paul Mendocha offers a reliable test:
EAT THREE MEALS WITH THEM.
Most folks can maintain a tidy appearance for a single lunch or dinner. But if the guy is a poser, his veneer will start to wear thin by the third meal. You’ll know.
Weren’t you really starting to connect with your spouse by the third date?
Maybe that’s why at 4-Man Intensives and Roundtable, we all eat together three times. When people are NOT posers, that’s enough contact to begin a REAL relationship.
Dan Kennedy warns: Pay attention to how they treat ‘the little people’ – those in low positions of power. How do they treat the waitress? How about the guy at the hotel desk or airline counter when the reservation gets screwed up? Do they throw a tantrum?
They’ll treat YOU the same way, I promise.
Jerk Test: Before you enter into a long term partnership, make sure you’ve had a chance to watch how they react when something goes wrong. Wires get crossed. Someone shows up an hour early or late. Do they start verbally abusing your staff?
Some of my friends deliberately throw wrenches into the works, just to see how the prospective employee, partner, client, consultant or investor will behave. The laboratory of reality never lies.
Perry Marshall
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About the Author
Perry Marshall has launched two revolutions in sales and marketing. In Pay-Per-Click advertising, he pioneered best practices and wrote the world's best selling book on Google advertising. And he's driven the 80/20 Principle deeper than any other author, creating a new movement in business.
He is referenced across the Internet and by Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, INC and Forbes Magazine.
4 Comments on “3 Meals, “Little People” and the Jerk Test”
Hi Perry, I did JERK test on my potential girlfriend after reading this and guess what ?
I got to see her true colours and we finally broke up. She freaked out when I threw wrenches in her work deliberately and she threw profanities and abuses at me. She was proved out to be a dysfunctional woman.
This is the ultimate test. Great advice.
Thanks to John Paul Mendocha
Another red flag is on how punctual they are with their payments.
If a client is consistently late with payments, then he either does not respect you or he’s in financial trouble. Things will probably get worse either way.
I have experienced this once. The client was always late for one or two weeks. Suddenly, with a bigger project, he was not able to pay at all. I got some money with exerting lots of pressure, but lost about DM 30000 + costs of lawyer. Back then this meant a temporary end to my business. I had to get a job to avoid troubles with my bank.
Great advise Perry! My second biggest nightmare client ever qualified for jerk status of the highest order. And she exited our client roster in spectacular style owing (and still does) my company over $35,000. These rude, high-on-themselves, sociopath-like clients are just not worth it! If it’s not practical to have 3 meals with someone, at least don’t be afraid to ask for references!
Great Advice! Thanks, Perry