“They said WHAT?!” Leaving the past in the past is hard to do in any area of life, but it’s one of the most important strengths of successful businessmen and businesswomen. If another company or individual has written something negative about you on social media, it’s beneficial for you to work out the differences and move forward.
It’s ok if you personally dislike certain comments and it’s ok to disapprove if another firm conducts itself in an unethical way, but that behavior always reflects poorly on them. Don’t make it worse and don’t let emotional responses get in your way. Making money, attracting new customers and expanding your own business are your important goals. Regardless of problems on social media, take a deep breath and move forward.
One of the most famous businessmen in the world is Ted Turner, the founder of American cable television channels TBS, TNT and CNN, former Vice Chairman of Time Warner and former owner of the Atlanta Braves and World Championship Wrestling sports organizations. For decades, Turner held a grudge against rival media mogul Rupert Murdoch, whose businesses include cable network FOX News.
In 2003, after Turner called Murdoch a “warmonger” and criticized FOX News during a speech, British newspaper The Guardian recounted that their decades-long rivalry had begun during a 1983 yacht race, when a boat sponsored by Murdoch crashed into and sank Turner’s boat. Turner was so enraged that he had challenged Murdoch to a fight, offering to televise it. “When Mr. Murdoch launched Fox News in 1996 as a direct competitor to CNN, Mr. Turner said he was ‘looking forward to squishing Rupert like a bug’,” The Guardian continues. “He also compared his rival to Adolf Hitler. ‘How do you make peace with a mega-maniac?’ Mr. Turner once said of Mr. Murdoch.”
Like many of us, as years go by, Turner has softened. Known as a staunch supporter of environmental causes, as a land preservationist, and as a philanthropist – he once gave $1 billion to help the U.N. create the United Nations Foundation charity – Turner said on his 70th birthday in 2008 that he had made peace with Murdoch. Turner had read that Murdoch’s company NewsCorp “was going green” and had sent Murdoch an encouraging and congratulatory letter. Murdoch wrote back and the two eventually had lunch together at one of Ted’s Montana Grill restaurants.
In any business, not just at the heights of international corporations, learning to leave the past behind and move forward is a sign of true professionalism. It doesn’t matter if you’re running your own small business, managing social media on behalf of your boss, or just trying to get along with customers on Facebook, you will face conflict. It’s how you deal with conflict that matters. Most importantly, you must strive to leave the past in the past. Do what is needed for your business today. The first step must be taken every morning when you get out of bed, and that is to let go of animosity, negativity, and hard feelings. Start fresh!
Source for The Guardian article quoted above:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2003/apr/25/newscorporation.pressandpublishing
Source for Turner’s 2008 comments (Fora.tv video):
www.dailymotion.com/video/xgk3yp_ted-turner-and-rupert-murdoch-bury-the-hatchet_news
tags: professionalism, business management, conflict resolution, small business, Ted Turner, Rupert Murdoch, CNN, FOX News