I've done that all my life and am almost always disappointed. I think more of people than they really are and I am always shocked that they are so below what I thought they were.

I was trying to help my friend with her business so she can get on her feet financially and I am shocked she is so awful. For example, instead of paying what she owes me, she tells me she won't have the money until she gets it from somewhere else.

Now I understand she is financially strapped, but you just don't do that when you are trying to establish good credit and value in people's eyes. She could have had a good thing with me, but now I will just back off from helping her.