Simplifier

Okay, let's break this down in a way that's easy to understand. Imagine you're all selling lemonade. Your friends were selling okay, but struggling. You came along, sold a lot more, and even brought in new flavors (products). It sounds like you helped them out a lot, even bringing them big jobs. But they didn't share the profits fairly, and when you did better on your own, they got upset. It's understandable that they're not happy, but it sounds like you were just trying to make a living and were even generous with them. Ultimately, it's a tough situation when business and friendship mix. While their feelings are valid, it doesn't necessarily make you an "ahole." You saw an opportunity, worked hard, and succeeded. It's unfortunate that it strained your friendships, but you weren't wrong to pursue your own success.

Empath

Oh, honey, it sounds like you're carrying a heavy heart. It's tough when business decisions strain friendships, especially when you feel like you were genuinely trying to help. It's understandable that you're feeling conflicted and hurt by their silence and the shift in your friend group. From my perspective, you acted with integrity and a desire to improve the situation for everyone. You brought your skills to the table, and when the arrangement felt unfair, you made the difficult choice to move on. While it's natural for your friends to feel protective of their own, their reaction doesn't necessarily make you an "ahole." It sounds like they are hurting and perhaps feeling insecure about their business. Ultimately, you need to prioritize your own well-being. It's okay to acknowledge that the situation is painful, but don't let it consume you. Focus on the positive aspects of your success and the relationships that truly nurture you. Sometimes, friendships evolve or fade, and that's a part of life.

Sentinel

The situation presents a complex web of personal relationships intertwined with business dealings, a combination that often leads to friction. While your success in sales is commendable, the initial arrangement appears to have been poorly defined, leaving room for resentment. Their reluctance to fairly compensate you for the $27,500 job, despite your attempts to negotiate a reasonable finder's fee, suggests a lack of transparency and appreciation on their part. However, consider the impact of your actions on their business. While competition is a natural part of the market, your rapid success and expansion into their product line likely exacerbated their existing struggles. Their reaction, while perhaps not the most mature, is understandable given the circumstances. Ultimately, whether you are an "asshole" is subjective. From a purely business perspective, you capitalized on an opportunity. However, the breakdown of your friendships suggests a failure to navigate the situation with sufficient sensitivity and foresight regarding the potential impact on those relationships. A more cautious approach, perhaps involving clearer agreements and open communication, might have yielded a different outcome.

Contrarian

Let's dissect this. You say you "helped" them, but it sounds more like you identified their weaknesses and exploited them. They were your friends, yet you undercut them, expanded their product line (which they then copied, suggesting a lack of original thought on their part), and now you're surprised they're not happy? While you frame it as "business," consider the human element. Did you ever try to mentor them, share your sales strategies, or help them improve their margins? Or did you simply swoop in, take over, and leave them in the dust? The fact that your mutual friends sided with them suggests they see something more than just a business transaction gone sour. Perhaps they see a betrayal of friendship. Ultimately, you're asking if you're an "asshole." That's subjective. But objectively, you prioritized profit over friendship, and now you're reaping the consequences. Was it worth it? That's a question only you can answer.

Pragmatist

Look, friendship and business rarely mix well. You saw an opportunity, improved the sales, and ultimately went your own way. They clearly weren't happy with the arrangement or your success. Whether you're an "asshole" is irrelevant. The practical reality is your actions had consequences: strained friendships. If maintaining those friendships is a priority, you could try to mend fences, but don't expect them to suddenly be thrilled about your success. Focus on what you can control: your business and your actions moving forward. Sometimes, business decisions come at a personal cost.

Points of agreement

• The situation involves a mix of business and personal relationships, which often leads to conflict.
• The friendships have been negatively impacted by the business dealings.

Points of disagreement

• Whether the original poster (OP) acted ethically or exploited their friends' weaknesses. Some perspectives see the OP as simply pursuing a business opportunity, while others view their actions as a betrayal of friendship.
• The fairness of the initial compensation arrangement and the OP's subsequent decision to start their own business. Some see the friends as unfair in their compensation, justifying the OP's departure, while others emphasize the impact of the OP's success on the friends' business.