On business leadership: Who do you choose to work with and not to work with?

 

I learned this from a guru: "In business there are no enemies, there are only people you want to work with, and people you don't want to work with." Ironically, I later learned about some questionable business practices of this guru, and decided she was someone I didn't want to work with. 

How do you decide who not to work with? 

• If you don't like the person, you won't work with them?
• If you are not comfortable with some of their ways of working, you won't? 
• Only if their actions go against some of your core principles? Or, 
• It's business. If the transaction is profitable, you'll do it. 

Sometimes how desperate we are for the business affects our choices. If you don't need this particular transaction, naturally you can better afford to say no. For me, I find that I'm between (a) and (b). Sometimes there are people I decide not to work with simply because we don't click. I would rather not put myself through an uncomfortable working relationship. I choose to spend time with the many other collaborators who are better aligned. 

Where do you draw the line?