Vendor or partner?

Chris Brogan had a good post the other day about what it means to be a vendor to someone else as opposed to a partner. It was kind of thought provocing to me, because it underlined that while there certainly are significant differences in how you should be thinking and applying your trade, the real difference can be very small.

For my own part I choose to think of the people and companies I work for as partners. Now why do I do that? Because I like to see us as striving together to reach a common goal. That’s what partners do. At least in my book.

The challenge is that while I and the other side may see us as partners, I am in reality treated as - a vendor. This means that I have the same expectations on me as other vendors would have, and I just take my place in the rank and file of vendors doing various things for the person or company in question. It’s not about a common goal anymore. It’s about me fulfilling a task.

I don’t mind solving tasks for others and get paid to do so. Far from it. But I don’t understand why we need to have the partner discussion, if it’s a vendor they are looking for? Why not just cut to the chase and call it what it really is: A supply-demand relationship?

It would certainly simplify thinking and acting as a vendor.