The following week, Eric woke at the crack of dawn and worked late into the day. Building a house took a lot of work, and being the general contractor meant it was up to him to make sure no detail was overlooked. From day one, he intended to be there to answer any questions or handle any crisis, large or small, during the process.

Eric had been so busy he'd totally forgotten about Carl and the tokens, until he stopped to get his mail on Wednesday evening and found an envelope from his friend. True to his word, it contained a token with the word Optimism inscribed on it, as well as another token—this one inscribed with the word Relationships.

Hmmm, he thought, I'm not sure this token applies to me. He had never encountered any issues with the people he worked with in the past. Then again, he'd never overseen a large project with many crews before. Thus far, though, there hadn't been any issues. His workers had all shown up on time and knew their jobs well enough that they didn't require micromanaging. They were professionals, and that was precisely why Eric had chosen each subcontractor. If corners had to be cut, it would never be in the quality of craftsmanship that went into the house.

It was a plus, too, that Eric had a good relationship with his subcontractors. Right away, he let them know that he was there to help them in any way he could. And he meant it. A bad relationship could not only make for a miserable day, but it could also have a real impact on the effort put forth by the crews. He'd witnessed it before when one argument between a general contractor and a residential electrician had created tension amongst everyone on the job site. Sure, there were always going to be different ideas, personalities, and opinions, but Eric was committed to building both quality houses and relationships. Any disagreements needed to be addressed professionally and promptly, with respect for each party.

Shrugging, Eric tossed the token onto an end table, figuring he'd drop Carl a note later acknowledging receipt and thanking him for it. Actually, he was glad this wasn't something that he needed to learn about and address. He did make a mental note, though, to remember that the relationships on the job site were important and everyone should be valued and treated with respect.

Glad that things were going smoothly, Eric scanned their progress. The land had been cleared before they arrived, and the excavating had been done for the lower level. The masons were busy laying the block, with a goal to be done and ready for the first inspection by the end of the week, which meant they could start framing the following week. It was still spring, though, and Eric knew what that meant—there was always a potential for rain. Because of that, Eric was anxious to get the house framed and roofed on time. Once it was roofed, the trades could work inside, even in inclement weather.

The first week went by quickly. Even though the days were long, they went by fast, which is often the case when you're busy doing something you love. It helped that everyone got along and worked well together.

On Monday morning, however, they encountered their first problem. One of the carpenters showed up two hours late, which didn't sit well with Eric. The clock was ticking, and they were on a tight schedule to get the house framed and roofed. He needed his carpenters to be there and on time. This particular carpenter had a reputation for being late, but he also had a reputation for being quite skilled. He prided himself on doing things right the first time, every time. Concerned that this would become a pattern, Eric pulled him aside for a private talk.

“Hey, Ron. I just wanted to talk to see if there's a problem. I noticed you were a couple hours late. Is there something wrong? Something I can help with?”

“Ah, no. It's no big deal. I just got a late start this morning. Don't worry, it won't set you back,” he replied.

“I do want to make sure we stay on schedule—you know how important that is. But I also want to make sure that nobody is treated differently than anyone else. The rest of the crew was here before 7:00, ready to go, and they've been working ever since. It's not fair to expect them to be here on time if I don't expect it of everyone. Do you know what I mean?”

“What? If I put in a short day, what's it to you?”

“No. I'm just saying I want to see you make the same effort everyone else makes. We're a team, but I can't have people coming and going whenever they feel like it. I'm only trying to be fair. Can you work with me here?”

“Sure, whatever,” Ron replied, although somewhat begrudgingly. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work.”

Eric didn't like confrontations, and he sensed that Ron didn't like what he'd had to say. He noticed that Ron didn't speak to him again for the rest of the day. Actually, he didn't speak much to anyone. Eric almost regretted saying anything to him at all, thinking that if he had just let it slide, it would have blown over and been an isolated incident.

Eric was relieved to see that Ron showed up on time for the rest of the week. Every day, Eric took the time to speak to him and let him know that he was happy with the work he was doing. While Ron's responses weren't super friendly, they were polite, leaving Eric to believe that they had put their earlier confrontation behind them, where it belonged.

On Friday afternoon, Eric ran into town to grab the checks to pay his subcontractors for their work, so they could pay their employees. He'd always believed in the motto that paid employees were happy employees. Having been in a position where money was short, Eric knew that paying people on time was not only expected, but also appreciated.

It was about an hour before quitting time when he noticed Ron was gone. The rest of the crew had just started wrapping up and were picking up their tools and cleaning the construction site, but Ron was nowhere to be found.

“Hey, guys, anyone seen Ron?” he yelled.

“Not recently,” one replied.

“He took off about half an hour ago—said he had plans and had to leave early,” another answered.

“What?” Eric couldn't believe what he'd just heard. But he knew he had to do something about it, even if it might offend the carpenter. The problem was he didn't know how to address the issue without creating a bigger rift.

He was still thinking about it on Sunday afternoon, so he decided to call Carl.

“Hi, Carl. I've been pretty busy this week, but I wanted to make sure I didn't forget to thank you for the tokens.”

“My pleasure,” Carl said. “So, do you have any insight on the new one, Relationships?”

“Well, I actually thought relationships were my forte and that was one token I didn't need. But it seems that I might be wrong,” Eric admitted.

“How so? If I might ask, what's going on?”

Eric brought Carl up to date with what had happened during the week and Ron's response.

“You know, I thought I'd taken care of the problem, but it looks like that was only temporary.”

“Eric, I won't tell you what to do. But I will tell you that there are relationships that should be cultivated and nurtured. Relationships that are based on trust are most valued and valuable. Let me ask you this: After one week working with this individual, do you trust him?”

Eric paused before answering. “I did, but now, I'm not so sure.”

“Remember, too, Eric, that relationships aren't one‐sided. That's why the best relationships are mutual and both parties benefit. That's why a relationship with a partner is so significant. Knowing that, can you say that your relationship with Ron is mutual and both of you benefit equally?”

“No, I can't. And that's the tough part—I gave him a chance and he let me down. Now I don't know how to handle it.”

“Life is about relationships. The same is true for business. It is the relationships you create and bring with you that add value to the lives and businesses for all parties. That was the driving force behind our mastermind group, Eric. Every member was chosen quite carefully, not only for what they could gain, but also for what they could bring to the other members. Conduct your business in the same way, and you won't have any regrets. And remember, there are some relationships that are not beneficial. That is up to you to determine.”

“Well, thank you, sir. I guess I have a lot to think about before tomorrow morning,” Eric replied.

“Eric, don't make the mistake of making this personal. Any decision you make will affect everyone on the job site. It is a professional decision. Maybe that will help,” Carl offered.

After the two hung up, Eric pondered the avenues he could take. He could pull Ron aside again and this time give him a sterner talk, making his expectations very clear. But Eric thought he'd already done that. And he thought he had treated Ronnie with respect. Unfortunately, though, that respect didn't appear to be mutual. If Ron had respected him as the general contractor and the leader of the project, he would have thanked him, apologized, and tried to do better. At the very least, Eric would have expected him to come to him if he had to leave early.

Hours later, Eric resigned himself to what he knew he had to do. His relationships with all of his subcontractors and trades were important to him. If he wanted their respect, he had to value their time, dedication, and commitment. They, too, deserved to have dependable workers to help them accomplish their jobs.

He picked up the phone and called Ron. After thanking him for the work he'd done, he advised him that his services weren't needed anymore.

The next morning, he advised his crew that Ron would not be returning. Then he took a few moments to thank them, letting them know that he appreciated their cooperation and dedication to the project and that he valued them. He assured them that he was reasonable and reminded them that he was there if they needed anything—his job was to make their jobs easier. One by one, they all shook his hand and thanked him.

“You can count on me, Eric. We've got a good group here. Let's get to work!” one said.

Eric smiled as he reached his hand into his pocket, finding the token, Relationships. Carl was right. Some relationships were worth tending to and nurturing. But sometimes relationships weren't mutually beneficial. He felt badly about letting Ron go, but he realized that he owed it to the people he could count on. It was his job to make sure they knew they could count on him.

Satisfied that his mission was accomplished, he made a mental note to let Carl know that he'd learned a valuable lesson. It was far better to invest in relationships based on trust and respect than to continually try to mend a one‐sided relationship.