People Buy People

The saying go that people buy from people they trust. LinkedIn just ran a pole on the question "If the adage "People buy People" is true then why do people buy you?" All the usual suspect were there for answer options (expertise, personality, etc.)and, in general, expertise leads by a slim margin followed by personality. Experience and character were next and looks hasn't shown up yet. I believe that any answer other than expertise or experience is against current EEO/EEOC laws.My take on the legality issue first popped up in an Organizational Behavior class while chasing an MBA. At the time the buzz word was "Chemistry" but the intent was the same.

Everyone believes that for an organization to work you have to have chemistry among the participants. The financially successful networking industry has grown up around the idea that people by people. Pay your money to BNI or a Chamber function and get to know prospective clients before you try to sell them something. Sounds good to me. I wouldn't want to hire someone that wouldn't get along with their fellow employees and I wouldn't buy a product from someone that I was suspicious of because I didn't know them or their intentions. I don't believe you do either and I don't believe you should have to. Too bad the government doesn't feel the same way.

Aren't practices such as buying from people that share your interests or hiring employees that you have chemistry with blatantly contrary to the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission? I think so and I brought it to the attention of my Organizational Behavior professor in hopes of generating a lively discussion. No such discussion took place you understand, the topic and opinion points out the absolute idiocy of the having government meddle in areas outside those in which they we intended to meddle; namely those enumerated in the constitution.

When it comes right down to it doesn't the question become, "Why should I hire/buy from the handicapped, women, minorities or those with whose sexual orientation I find disagreeable?" If I don't have that chemistry or connection with you can I put off the hiring/buying decision until I find someone more like myself? I think you, me and anyone else should have that right.

Before you march in front of my business chanting homophobe, sexist, and/or racist allow me to clarify my stance. Beyond not wanting government involved I buy into the whole chemistry/connection philosophy. I realize that not hiring based on merit has the possibility of putting me at a competitive disadvantage but I'm only guaranteed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness not success. Let the market deal with stupidity. If I don't hire a well qualified minority someone else will and I lose. If I won't rent my house out to a woman it may sit empty until I go broke.

Tom Peters, Ron Stone (my aforementioned professor) nor anyone else seems willing to do anything except espouse the "can't we all just get along" philosophy but no one ever wants to discuss what it really means. In the mean time the government owns the banks, and automobile industry and their making a grab for health care. There's talk of another stimulus package and everyone's debt to the Feds went up an approximate $37,000 this year. Forest Gump's mama was right. stupid is as stupid dose.