I recently received an email from a business associate who also happens to be a friend. In the email she informed me that her website would be making some changes and to let her know if we were interested in going along with the changes.

I jumped on the email and responded with a quick yes. Imagine my surprise when I received a response that started out with lol and then you weren’t supposed to receive the email – my secretary sent it out by mistake.

My first thought was lol, also known as laugh out loud (my mother in law thought it meant lots of love). Did I miss the joke, is this funny?   You sent me an e-mail by accident .  Just go with it.  Or say – “sorry, you weren’t supposed to get that”.

My friend was quick to point that I use lol. I thought about it and yes I do use lol – in text messages. Not in emails (unless it’s a joke) and not with business related e-mails.

My second thought was is it possible to have friends in business? This is someone I shared countless hours chatting with – mostly business related – but personal topics were discussed too. Someone who has offered their help to me in the past and I have done the same for them.

I am going to continue to believe it is possible to have friends in business. I have seen countless Mommy Bloggers who are friends, who root for each other and share in the happy times, as well as the tough times.    I think it easier to have friends in business when you aren’t direct competitors – when you both aren’t competing for the same things.  But I also believe you can be in the same business and be someone’s cheerleader too.

What do you think – do you use LOL in business emails and do you have friends in the same business that you are in?

Leave a comment and let me know your experiences.