The Jerk Employee Effect

I keep rambling on about brand, the importance of authority, the sheer power of reputation, and the like. But, entrepreneurs, founders, and executives—if you care about your brand, listen up. Want to boost repeat business, get referrals, and create positive buzz? Simple: purge your company of jerks. Here's the truth: The company with the fewest toxic people wins. Jerk employees ruin customer experiences, and customers blame you, not them. THEY. TANK. YOUR. BRAND. One toxic hire can cost you your best client. The worst part? Customers won't remember the jerk—they'll remember your brand. And they'll take their money elsewhere. Why It Matters Customers forgive mistakes but never forgive intentional mistreatment. The more you tolerate, the faster you lose your customers—and the more money you'll have to spend fixing the damage. Good experiences = positive associations. Bad experiences = negative bias. Consistent negativity? They'll prefer your competition. What you did right six months ago won't matter if your customer was treated poorly last week. How to Fix It Don't hire jerks. They spread like weeds. Don't promote them. A jerk with authority is worse. Move them on. Let them work for your competitors. Hire positive, smart people. They're out there. Reward positive behavior. It boosts morale and customer retention. Final Thought Happy customers are your biggest asset. Jerks employees only drive them away. The brand with the least toxicity wins. 🟡 Like this? Repost it to your network; your followers are gonna love it! The algo's an enigma; you probably won't see this account again, so don't forget to follow me @ Adrian M. Peticila 🟡 for daily branding lore.