The Trump Kim Jong Un Summit and Its Most Valuable Lesson

The world paid close attention to the summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un. Regardless of its ultimate outcome, there’s a lesson going on every entrepreneur should learn. Namely, how to avoid snakes in business.

The Fable of the Scorpion and the Frog

They come by different names: charlatans, cheats, hustlers, swindlers, and more. For those who’ve not heard it, the fable of the scorpion and the frog weaves a short, cautionary tale. A scorpion needs to cross a river and asks a frog for a lift. The frog objects, saying the scorpion will sting and kill him.

Regardless of their specific methods, con artists typically depend on their abilities to charm, intimidate, and rapidly spin convincing lies. More often than not, con artists are successful because well-meaning staff members accidentally provide crucial information in an attempt to assist them. Ultimately, the best way to protect your business from con artists is to make your team aware that they exist. CEOs and their team members should be constantly vigilant about what they share and with whom. —Forbes.com

But, the scorpion points out, if he were to sting the frog, both would drown in the river. The frog reluctantly agrees and midway, the scorpion stings him. The frog asks why and the scorpion replies, “It’s my nature, I’m a scorpion.”

How to Avoid Con Artists to Protect Your Business

Now, con men cleverly disguise their true natures. They conceal their actual motives and that’s what makes them so difficult to spot. But, there are usually at least one or two (even more) warning signs. Here are a few ways to avoid con artists to protect your business:

  • Listen to your gut. Con men know how to read people — it’s a necessary trait. So, they are careful to convince. Which means, it’s not easy to spot the scheme straight away. But, your gut feeling might be all you need to avoid becoming a victim.
  • Put things into perspective. This is another way of saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” In other words, if you hear something that seems to be too good, put it into perspective. More particularly, place it up against reality. If it’s like trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole, you have your answer.
  • Don’t hesitate to ask around. Shysters need to move on and move quickly before word spreads. While it might not be comfortable, ask around. Do a little digging if you get a funny feeling to see if others had a bad experience. It’s worth your time and effort in the long run.
  • Trust but verify. Along the same lines is to verify. Check out what they’re selling to learn if it’s genuine or just a hustle. With a small amount of sleuthing, you can save yourself a lot of grief.

How do you spot charlatans? What additional advice would you give others about avoiding con artists? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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.elementor-widget-text-editor{font-family:var( –e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;font-weight:var( –e-global-typography-text-font-weight );color:var( –e-global-color-text );}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:var( –e-global-color-primary );}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap, .elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-default .elementor-drop-cap{color:var( –e-global-color-primary );border-color:var( –e-global-color-primary );} Chad Jewell had reached the point every business owner dreads: he felt trapped in his own HVAC business and was ready to sell. He’d already started that process with a broker — until he realized the broker’s incentives weren’t actually aligned with his own. “I came to a point in my business where I felt that I was in a hole trying to get out. I wanted a life change and I was working to sell my business but I knew the broker did not have my best interest in mind,” Chad says. “…THEN I MET JOHN. John knew and understood sales; he helped me figure out which acquisition made the most sense… After 1.5 years of working with John, I have literally doubled my revenue. My favorite check to write is my check to John because I know that his check is well deserved.” An Exit Plan Built on the Wrong Numbers Before engaging Waters Business Consulting Group, Noble Air HVAC Services was facing the classic pileup of problems that make a business hard to both run and sell: financial forecasting and budgeting were too thin to give real predictability to growth, pricing strategy and job costing weren’t protecting margins the way they should, and cash flow management wasn’t keeping pace with the capital needs of a growing operation. Chad also needed to find and hire professional talent to help scale the business, and he needed an exit strategy that would actually optimize his return rather than just get a deal done. Layered on top of all of that were the practical challenges of leadership development, navigating a business acquisition transition, and figuring out how to integrate Noble Air’s culture with a larger corporate structure. Rebuilding the Business Before Selling It Rather than rushing toward an exit, Waters Business Consulting Group worked with Chad to strengthen the business itself first. Weekly sessions reviewed financials and key action items to keep Chad accountable to real progress, and the team took a hands-on role with prospective partners to facilitate the eventual acquisition. Hiring improved through clear position descriptions and performance incentives, contracts were designed and managed more carefully, and a dedicated forecast module aligned marketing and sales strategy with concrete growth goals. When the acquisition process began, Waters Business Consulting Group negotiated on Chad’s behalf and coached him through integrating with the new company’s culture — effectively serving as a fractional CEO through the transition. The Results The numbers speak for themselves: Chad doubled his revenue in one year and increased EBITDA alongside it, which in turn doubled the value of the business by the time the acquisition closed. Contract negotiations delivered a stronger return to Chad along with a consistent compensation structure and an earn-out bonus, and stronger partner relationships opened the door to recurring opportunities and growth. Increased trust among employees gave Chad more time off than he’d had in years, and the experienced, outside insight throughout the process gave him the confidence to make sound decisions at every step. Whether you’re planning to grow, sell, or both, having someone in your corner whose incentives are aligned with yours changes everything — as Chad discovered firsthand. Waters Business Consulting Group helps Arizona business owners build stronger businesses and navigate exits that actually work in their favor. Schedule a free consultation to talk through your goals. Contact Waters Business Consulting Group

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