There’s a well-worn business story, likely worked over by the internet to the level of urban legend. The tale’s wisdom makes it much too good to debunk. Thomas J. Watson, the CEO of IBM supposedly is confronting an employee over a very expensive mistake. The employee naturally expects to get fired, but Watson is said to have replied, “Fire you? I just spent $$$$$$$ (legendary amount of your choice) educating you.”
Small business owners aren’t usually the victim of an employee’s million dolla...