Be Careful When Giving a Friend a Purchase Order

Doing business with friends can be rewarding — but it can also get complicated fast. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, Jim Carr shares personal lessons from decades in manufacturing about the risks of mixing friendship with purchase orders, subcontracting, tooling, consulting, and supplier relationships. The hard truth: good people can still be bad business partners. Jim talks about why expectations break down, why it is so hard to hold a friend accountable, and why a simple written agreement before the work begins may be the best way to protect both the business and the friendship. Because when delivery slips, quality fails, communication breaks down, or money gets involved, friendship alone will not save the relationship. Clear expectations might. This is a personal, reflective episode about trust, boundaries, leadership, and the real consequences of letting business and friendship collide without a plan.