Lessons from Bruce: Trust and Greed in Business

Bruce

A Scottish man that I once worked with. Bruce was the only person I ever knew that played bagpipes. He was tall and thin with a quaff of black, curly hair.  He was a bit quiet. Until he would break out his bagpipes at work to practice between surgeries or patient visits.

Bruce worked for a women who was once his next-door neighbor and his babysitter. She was ten years his senior and promised Bruce a partnership. I started working for his boss and helped improve her struggling practice. I computerized the practice and implemented proper marketing. Additionally, I set up inventory control, processes, and procedures, and hired staff.  Within a year of leading the financial operations of the practice, Bruce’s boss was so grateful. She wrote me at least two notes expressing how she felt I must have been sent from Heaven above. She could finally breathe, the practice was financially viable, and self-sustaining.

When the time came for Bruce’s partnership, unfortunately his boss backed out. Since she was doing so well she felt like she no longer needed a partner. At that time, I was unaware of their past relationship. I had no idea they had this unwritten handshake agreement.  It all came out when Bruce left the practice to purchase his own clinic.  When he confided in me why, I felt awful. I felt that my helping her succeed was what killed their friendship.  I was deeply affected by her greed. She was disloyal to this person she had known since he was a six year old little boy. This person that put all his trust in someone he thought was his friend.

I ended up leaving just two weeks after Bruce.  I was truly disheartened by the whole situation.  I never looked back and never gave her much more thought. But I learned an unfortunate lesson from all of this. You really can not trust anyone, especially when money is involved. If you have the opportunity to share the wealth, please do so. If you made a commitment, don’t back out due to greed. Be the change in this world that future generations can look back at with awe. Inspire to be greater than anyone would ever expect.