If you hire consultants in your firm, you may have conflict. Consultants have notoriously-strong personalities, and many times they clash. That happened to me as my company entered a phase of explosive growth. I hired Barrett, a former client, to learn our business and he became a successful consultant here.
Then I hired Franklin, another executive friend, who loved our products and services. Very soon these two friends went head-to-head. One left the company to form his own firm, and I subcontracted work to him. This is my letter of support for Barrett.
December 9, 20—
Barrett Tilstrom
President
Tilstrom Consulting
700 17th Street, STE 3200
Denver, Colorado 80202
Dear Barrett,
Merry Christmas!
Last night you thanked me for my support, and I want you to know it's there. I'm ready to give you a lot of support in the change you're making now.
I imagine it's scary stepping out into the future, but you've done it before—we've done it together, and we'll do this one together too.
I'll be behind you supporting you every way I can, with advice, ideas, friendship. Just let me know what you need.
I've felt bad this last year, as I know you have, about the situation with Franklin. As I told you, I never intended him to come between us, but obviously he did. That was really sad.
I need you to know that you're number one with me—always have been, always will be. I'm closer to you than to my own brother. You are my brother.
Congratulations on your choice of new office space. I think it's great. It signals a really wonderful new beginning for you, and all of us here want to be a part of it.
As a way of getting you started, we'd like to contribute $400 per month for the first quarter toward rent ($1200). Obviously, you're going to be using your office to benefit our business, and we'd like to share the expense. (By the way, it was nice to see you have the balls to do it alone.)
Congratulations and best wishes. Let's have our best year ever.
