I never really understood why someone ghosts me. That is, they disappear without responding to my texts, emails, or phone calls. The people that sometime ghost me aren’t people I don’t know- they are clients and sometimes friends. It is always so confusing to me.

I suppose it’s a sign of disrespect. Perhaps there is something I did wrong in our business relationship that they are trying to get back at me for (without telling me what it is). Or maybe it’s a lack of courage to confront what happened. Or maybe our relationship ceases to matter anymore to them.

Sometimes I even get so frustrated I send them a note that says, “I thought you were dead!” in all cases, this is the wrong way to act when you are in any kind of business (or personal) relationship. It solves nothing.

Remember, you meet the same people on the way up as you meet on the way down so beware.

You never know when your paths will cross again and its best in business never to burn bridges when its not necessary.

I still don’t understand ghosting since there are so many non-confrontational ways to end a relationship: text them, leave a voicemail in the middle of the night, or send an email. Tell them what went sideways or just say “ I prefer not to be involved with you with business any longer.” This I can respect because it gives closure to both people. If the conversation goes beyond what you are comfortable with, then our electronic devices give anyone the ability to block someone later.

But maybe this is exactly the point of ghosting; leaving the person to wonder and to tell you that you matter so little to them that not even a reply is appropriate.

As Julie Roberts said in “Pretty Woman”- “Big Mistake, Huge.”