Sometimes family and business mix as well as oil and water. My brother-in-law made that crystal clear. I’m Clyde, an engineer who does house renovations. This is what happened that caused my brother-in-law and me to sever ties, and it was all his fault.

A few years ago, Jeff, my brother-in-law, asked me to renovate his unfinished basement. He wanted several rooms, a bathroom, a kitchenette, and a family room. I gave him a solid discount, pricing the job at $38,000, a fraction of the usual cost.

However, after the renovation was completed and the basement was transformed, Jeff became evasive about payment. He used excuses and delayed promises, claiming familial ties to avoid paying. This went on until he needed to sell his house.

When he couldn’t sell because of a lien I placed, he finally paid up. The ordeal strained family ties, but it reinforced my belief in standing firm on principles, even when it’s uncomfortable.