FBC – 352 – Want to sabotage your relationships & make enemies in business? Then do this…

Want to sabotage your relationships & make enemies in business? Then do this..

Today, we are going to talk about a terrible habit that we all have and that pushes people away.

This is one of the biggest causes of arguments, disappointments and frustrations in most of relationships.

Understanding this and applying it in your life is radically going to change it.

All the details and more in this episode.

If you are serious about finding a way to get a glimpse of true freedom and get as close as one can be, then click on the link below.

https://martinebongue.com/profit-machines

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This is a story of this math teacher. He was drawing 10 equations on the board and there is one that's completely wrong. All the other ones are fine. And what happens is that all the kids in the room started making fun of him, like, oh, you're an idiot and blah, blah, blah.

And he’s like, why are you guys laughing? And they're like, well, you're an idiot. The first equation is completely wrong. And he said, well, I actually did it on purpose because what I wanted to see was how many of you were going to make fun of me because I made one mistake, but nobody congratulated me because I got nine out of 10.

Stories like that bring some stuff that's actually very obvious, but until someone expresses it and voices it, you don't realize that you’re doing this. But this is what we are kind of programmed to do in society. We are programmed to start finding fault and blame people for stuff that they haven't done.

It's one of those things that I see and absolutely hate when people do that to me. I think it's really unfair because I will bend over backwards for people and you do everything you possibly can. But there's one thing they don't like. So it's not even that you've done something wrong. It's just their interpretation of something and sometimes it doesn't have anything to do with you.

Then they basically forget everything you've done and start blaming you for stuff. And that's something that just drives me mental. And everybody does that. I think I do it as well.

So when you have a run in with someone or you have a fall out with a friend or something like that, very often its one incident and that's it. I hate you and you forget everything that was there before.

Try not to. If next time you're tempted to do that, then think about it. Be rational about it. It's just one instance. Look at the big picture. Are these people there to hurt you or something like that? No, they're not there to hurt you. They've always been kind to you. Always been nice.

Now, there's one little thing and you forget about the whole thing, but, you know, that's in personal relationships. But also it will help you in your life business wise in two different ways.

Want to sabotage your relationships & make enemies in business? Then do this…

So the first way is, if you expect that from people, you know that this is going to happen. If you want to start a business, you're going to do something. If you want to do like a YouTube channel of this or that, blah, blah, blah, nobody's going to congratulate you when things are going great.

There's always going to be some idiot who is going to criticize you. So if you already expect it, you assimilate the fact that, well, this is what people do, it's not going to get to you. It's not going to affect you and you're not going to feel bad about it.

The other thing is that when you're collaborating with people and especially if you're managing people, please understand that it really goes a long way. Praise people when they do something good and not just bash them when they do something wrong.

That's one of the biggest mistakes that I see in companies is the lack of recognition that people have for their achievements. And then they will bash you when you've done something wrong.

What I like to do is if you did something really great, I want people to know what you did. Right. And I will send them like an email and stuff to management saying, well, this is an achievement. It's Bob who actually did it. And this is what it’s going to bring to the company to put them on the map. And thanking people for what they do is, you know, it goes a long way.

So that quote was very revealing for me. So I always try to congratulate people if they do something, it's not like, you know, faking it or something like this, I just think it's normal. All right.

Frequently Asked Questions

What single habit sabotages relationships and creates enemies in business?

The single habit is interrupting people instead of letting them finish, paired with quick judgment. It signals that you do not value the other person's view. Done repeatedly with clients, partners, or staff, it triggers resentment that quietly turns into churn, gossip, or refusal to work with you again on future opportunities.

How does poor listening damage business relationships specifically?

Poor listening damages relationships because it tells the other side that their input is replaceable. Clients stop sharing real concerns, partners hide problems until they explode, and staff disengage. The cost rarely arrives in one big moment. It shows up as missed renewals, slower projects, and people quietly choosing to work elsewhere instead.

What is one practical fix to become a better listener fast?

Practice the three second rule: when someone stops talking, wait three full seconds before replying. Most interruptions happen in the first second of perceived silence. The pause shows respect, gives space for the speaker to add nuance, and almost always improves the quality of your response. It is uncomfortable at first, then it becomes natural.

Can repairing the listening habit save existing business relationships?

Yes, in most cases. People notice when you suddenly start listening differently and tend to interpret it as growth. Pair the new habit with a short, honest acknowledgement that you have been working on it, and many partners, clients, and team members will give the relationship a real second chance, often with deeper trust.

About the Author

Martin Ebongue is the founder of martinebongue.com, an online business and lifestyle design blog focused on helping aspiring entrepreneurs build location-independent businesses. Since 2014, he has been creating and scaling online ventures across multiple niches, from digital products and affiliate marketing to SaaS and content platforms, while traveling the world. He shares the real-world strategies, tools, and systems that work, with a particular focus on AI-powered automation for solopreneurs. Follow him on YouTube, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

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