Karma in 2014

I believe in the concept of Karma. Not in the mystic sense, but more in the "Big Data" sense, the Chaos Theory sense, the Economists' "Unintended Consequences" sense, the Software Architect's "Action at a distance" design flaw. Given a sufficiently limiting scope of time ( say a human lifetime ) and a real or virtual community (the state of Texas, the Stack Exchange community, the Milwaukee Startup Scene) your actions will come back to you. It's never a good idea to make that hard sale, it's better to say to that customer "Listen, this is our value proposition, but it's starting to look like we may not be a fit right now." It's better to tell that potential employee "Listen, I'd love to have you, but I get a sense from the questions you're asking that we can't give you that kind of environment right now." Yes, there are many people out there who won't recognize what you've done for them with your honesty. Some will even hold you in contempt for it, "Moron! He almost got me to sign!" Generally speaking, though, people in America are generally good. Half of them are of above average intelligence. The next time that failed business deal needs to be sure they get an honest answer, they may remember the person who gave them the truth to their own detriment. The almost-employee refers their friends to you, the almost-client mentions you to their friends. It's a long term view in a world that focuses on short-horizon $200million startup exits. It's a view worth considering.