Most of us have been told not to mix friends and business but friendship can make work great with built-in trust, loyalty, and an easy rapport. Other times, it can go sideways fast, straining the business and the relationship.

In this episode, Cindi Baldi digs into the upsides and downsides of hiring friends. Through stories of businesses that flourished with friendships and others that fractured under the weight of blurred boundaries, Cindi explores the key questions you should ask before bringing a friend onto your payroll. Along the way, she unpacks how to spot red flags, set the right expectations for managing a friend, and to know whether the friendship is strong enough to handle work pressures.

You’ll learn why friendship can be a competitive advantage, why conflict is often harder to navigate when it’s personal, and how to make thoughtful choices to protect the business and the underlying relationship. Whether you’re tempted to bring a friend onto your team or already managing one, this episode offers practical insights to help you make the right call.

Episode Highlights:

• Why hiring friends sometimes leads to loyalty, trust, and great teamwork
• Common pitfalls—like blurred boundaries, favoritism, and unspoken expectations
• How to tell whether the friendship is ready for the pressures of work
• Strategies for setting clear agreements and roles up front
• Ways to protect the friendship even if the job doesn’t work out

🎥 Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Kzc2kM94vNc

📚 Purchase your copy of The Uncertainty Playbook here

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