Expectations are fine for relationships, as long as the parties involved are on the same page. For example, I expect to pay for a drink at the coffee shop, but I don't expect to pay for one when visiting a friend's house. Things get messy if you think one thing is happening and the other party thinks something else. Unfortunately, this happens a lot in business. And you may be doing this without even realizing it. Recently I saw a message from Jeff Brown of Read to Lead Podcast about an experience he had with a situation like this and how he handled it.  Help Your Expert Friends Build an Audience... If you like RED Podcast, subscribe now (it's free) and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like RED, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (maybe even two).