This one may ramble a bit but stick with me, OK?

When my job was eliminated at my former company the dear, sweet man who was, and I think still is, my friend delivered the news to me and said, “It’s not personal, it’s just business.”

When my brother called his oncologist’s nurse with questions about his newly-diagnosed cancer he was told, “She’s really busy.”

When I tried to buy something on sale at the Michael Kors store I was told, “You can return it but not for store credit, only for exchange for another piece of merchandize. If you don’t find something that day come back with this item again until you find something you want.” I’m sure she felt stupid saying these words – could see it in her eyes.

What’s the relationship? In all 3 cases it wasn’t “just business.”

Losing your job for whatever reason is about as personal as it gets and affects your ego, your family, your pocketbook, your health and pretty much anything else you want to throw in.

My brother’s response to being told “she’s busy” was “So am I. I’m busy dying.” Nothing more to say about that response (you would love my brother!)

And I walked out of the Kors store empty handed. Didn’t want to mess with that policy. No sale made and I’ve told several people about this dumb policy.

We are organized into businesses but, in the end, we are people dealing with people and the excuse “it’s just business,” or “company policy” is just that – excuses. It’s easier to place the blame on this nebulous thing we call “the business/policy” and hide behind it.

Please stop! We need to put OURSELVES out there every day, take responsibility, do what we know is the right thing, stand up against stupid policies, demand more help in dealing with customers/patients  – because it’s not “just business.” It’s about people relating to people, individuals and life.

“Business” is not personal but personnel should be.