What you say to other people can make or break you and it can happen without you even knowing about it. That old saying "loose lips sink ships" is oh so true in business. If you like to gossip as most people do, learn to listen rather than participate. Oh, you're saying to yourself that yes maybe you do talk about the job or your co workers, but never to anyone who's involved outside your work.

That's the kind of thinking that enabled my friend Susan to land that $50.00 an hour teaching contract with one of the local businesses. You see, I happen to be at lunch with a person who was casually talking about her job. After all, I had nothing to do with her company. I was just a computer consultant that was going to send her business. How could I be a threat?

This is how it happened. At the time, we were working on Susan's game plan to become a teacher. I had a client that wanted me to teach 15 of their employees. Since my company didn't do classroom training, I referred them to a computer school. Upon class registration, they mentioned who referred them. The Director of Training, Colleen, then called and spoke with me. I advised her that my company only did one-on-one training and maybe we could trade business. That's when she invited me to lunch.

The first lunch was merely a business meeting and we exchanged business cards. However, the second lunch a few weeks later was quite different. Colleen gave me a new business card and explained she just changed jobs. I knew her former employer had a reputation for suing past employees because of a no compete clause. Therefore, I questioned her about this. She then began to fill me in on all the latest legal gossip at her new place of employment concerning her former employer. I didn't say a word.

Through legal means, her former employer obtained an order that forbid Colleen or her current employer to solicit or train former clients. I calmly asked.

"What former clients?" She started naming them as I listened.

"Does this mean that those clients are no longer being trained by either company?" I interrupted.

"Well, my former employer has sent letters to them to get them to sign affidavits for the upcoming court battle." She quickly replied.

I knew right then I had something. No client wants to be dragged into court. When I got back to my office, I called one of the clients she mentioned, and asked about their employee training. They already knew me as a consultant and asked if I knew of any independent teachers. Guess who got the contract - that's right Susan.

Colleen never found out about my association with Susan. Colleen called me a few weeks later and went on and on about this new company (Susan's of course) that came out of the wood work and stole three of their biggest clients. Again, I quietly listened.

That Director of Training's mistake was, although my company did not want her clients, I knew people who did. She didn't realize how well connected I was in the computer community. Being in the business for nine years, I had met most of her associates and my husband knew her current employer. You just don't know who is sitting in the booth next to you at lunch or hanging on every word of that cell phone conversation. Therefore, think before you talk!

### Gina Novelle (copyright 12-2004)

Gina Novelle is a published free lance writer. Her company sponsors the web site http://www.thirdpocket.com, a support site for the self-employed. Her book, "Business Secrets Men Don't Tell Women" reveals how women and men view self-employment differently and will be available in 2005. She currently offers her services as an Ezine Writer to optimize search engine ratings, and teaches high tech marketing. gina@exclusivemarkets.net