9. Everything on my timetable
When working with suppliers you have to plan around their lead times, and your 'place in the queue'. That's not to say that sometimes customers and suppliers can't be too slow sometimes, but while what you are looking for from them looms large in your mind, you are likely one of many priorities for them. Pushing your timetable, especially when something could/should have been done earlier, but was left 'til the last minute by you (expecting others to accommodate you), is more likely to get you the cold shoulder.

8. Expect others to own your problems
There's one major rule that will endear you to people: OWN IT! As the owner of your business then it's up to you to make the decisions, and to follow through with action points whenever a problem arises. Your customers and suppliers should not have to bear the burden on your behalf.

7.Don't listen to advice
If you know best, why are you asking others? There can be nothing more frustrating than someone asking your thoughts, be it professionally or otherwise, and instead of taking it under consideration, the speedy response is 'no' or an approximation of it. We're not suggesting you have to *take* every piece of advice, but have the good courtesy to listen to it, and hold back on your rejection for a respectful period of time that would indicate that you have given it due consideration

6. Assume you're right unless proven otherwise
This comes down to a little humility and grace. You may be sure that you're right, but weather it be customer or supplier the implication of 'prove it' is offensive. There are times when you may need to do this, occasionally, but there's a right way of asking someone to verify that they're right. If you're starting a business and you think that you're the most 'right' or intelligent person in each room that you're in, in varying aspects of your business, or *any* single aspect, the you're in the wrong room

5. Entitlement
Let's get this very clear, one of the fastest way to alienate people, be it suppliers or customer, is to give the impression that you are entitled to give them a sales pitch, or to take their time, or that you have the right to their services, discounts, or to make demands that quite simply you don't have the right to ask.

4. Favours
OK, so there are many people, that following on from the previous item, feel that they are entitled to ask for favours - and that's wrong. But more than that, no matter weather you ask with or without that sense of entitlement, you're asking people to not only put themselves out professionally or personally, but also make themselves 'look like the bad guy' when they can't, or shouldn't, complete that favour. In addition, running your business on favours gives you an incorrect belief of what it takes you to make your business work, as you're not paying in time or cash for the things that are required to make your business work. Be careful with favours - they are a very limited resource.

3. Chase
OK, so sometimes we can all need a kick up the bottom every so often, but l when it comes to chasing for information, quotes, sales pitch follow ups etc., then be careful how often and regularly you chase. Being 'that guy' will end up with people wanting to not return your call or do more business with you . Don't be that guy.

2. Don't be accurate (info etc.)
Be it as a supplier or a customer either getting the wrong information, or incomplete information when asked is a sure fire way of determining that the person that you're dealing with is either unprofessional, isn't paying attention to you and your needs (not a good sign), or just doesn't know what they're talking about. These are bad things, no matter which way you cut it. Making someone ask you again makes them feel bad for making you look ignorant, stupid or unprofessional, so as often as not they won't , and then they'll avoid the issue, or you.

1. Be unrealistic
OK, so this is the number one on the list because it says so much about you. People will absolutely not want to work with anyone that quite simply has no idea about what they're asking for. People will have no respect for your business, because they will likely see it as not being a business, merely a pipe dream that you're asking them to buy in to. Make it real, make it believable, make it work.