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    John Packard Talks About Lessons Learned Part II

    Written by John Packard


    In my last lessons learned article, I began to answer a question posed to me regarding what I felt were the most important lessons I have learned over the course of my 45-year career in the steel industry. I wrote about honesty as being the simple answer and many of you have contacted me to agree with that insight.

    I then went on to tell the story of the relationship I had with one of the owners of a company who purchased steel from me early in my career, and how that relationship taught me a very important lesson. The lesson learned was how to deal with the difficulties associated with the education of a customer, especially when that education causes the customer to be perceived as having done something foolish or embarrassing. Relationships are important. But in the end, it’s all just business – and you can’t lose sight of that.

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