The Devil's In The Details

The Devil's In The Details

"Will you marry me?" "Yes, but what date do you have in mind?" "Also, your Mother hates me - will she have to come to the wedding?" "Lastly, who's going to pay for the wedding?" The devil's in the details.

"Pop, you said you would buy me a car when I became 18." "Yes son, I did say that, however, it's going to be a used car that has a lot of safety features." "Also, I expect you to learn how to do basic maintenance like change the oil." "Lastly, I expect you to get a job and pay for the insurance." The devil's in the details.

"John, let's agree to split the bill 50/50." "OK Sara, but you drink martinis and I drink cheap wine." "Also, it's not fair if you order your favorite - lobster and I eat my favorite a cheeseburger." "Lastly, you love desert and I don't." The devil's in the details.

I've spent 42 years of my life in business. There are two things I've learned in that time. First, the devils in the details. I have spent months working out a deal only to find that when we both put it in writing, what I thought the deal specifics were the other party had a very different view of the deal.

My relationships seemed easy. I thought we agreed on almost everything. However, when it came time to do the things I thought we agreed upon the opposite was true. 

When I was young buying a car was like going to war. Even after the salesman and I agreed on a price, by the time the finance guy got done with me the deal was a lot more expensive than the deal I thought we had. BTW, things are different now. Because of the internet I have all the bullets in my gun and the dealership winds up doing what I tell them the deal will be.

Before I tell you the second thing I've learned, I strongly suggest you never make a verbal contract with anyone. Get it in writing because the devil's in the details. I'm talking about your spouse, your best friend or your Mother or Father. If you want to be happy the rest of your life - get it in writing.

Now the second and most important thing I've learned in my many, many years is that no matter how detailed your agreement is, in time:

The Only Thing That's Curtain Is That Everything Will Change