Should I hire relatives to be even with my partner?

My business partner has decided to bring a relative to the enterprise to work as a manager.

Although she is qualified, I think it is unfair because she has three other relatives.

Should I bring relatives too to square off?

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A few weeks ago, I was asked to talk to a number of business people on the subject, “Are your…” In addressing the subject, I decided to turn the question to, “Are you on the hedonic treadmill?”

Some of the people in the audience had heard about the term, while others had not.

According to the principal of the hedonic treadmill, one has to keep running to remain on the same spot. For business people like yourself, it is only when you increase profits that you feel pleasure.

So, if last year a profit of Sh1 million made you very happy, this year you will only feel happy if you make Sh2 million. Even with the Sh2 million, you will have only as much pleasure as you got with Sh1 million the previous year.

With every succeeding year, greater profits have to be made otherwise you move backwards with respect to happiness derived from being in business. To remain on the same spot you have to run faster every year.

One of the most basic principles of the study of addictions is found in this precise principal. You need increasing doses of the drug to attain the same level of pleasure from the drug. Getting the drug becomes an end unto itself.

Your question has led me to this train of thought, because you seem not to have a plan or direction in your business.

More specifically, you do not seem to know if you are in business to make money, maintain a friendship or get even with your friend.

If, for example, you get up in the morning to go to work every day to make a great deal of money, it should not matter whether you make the money with your partner employing all his relatives or not.

All that would matter to you is that at the end of the month, the bank balance after expenses are to your liking. It would not matter who got you there, your partners and all his relatives notwithstanding.

On the other hand, it is possible that you and your partner go back together so long that being in the same business is a sign of your friendship and not a way of making much money.