Somebody has to say it: Small business owners can simply do and say crazy things, that you just won’t see and hear at Fortune 1000 companies.

For instance, I was speaking to a former employee of a printing company located in a very upscale part of Los Angeles. She returned from a short bathroom break, and a minute or two later, the owner came up to her.

“Uh, Julie, I noticed you went to the bathroom and used a paper towel. I saw it in the trash. They’re there for customers, so please bring you own, in the future.”

So, along with her lunch, she made a point of having two paper towels with her, each and every day.

She told me this story, and in a combination of laughter and near-tears exclaimed, “My gosh! You can buy a whole roll of paper towels for 99 cents!”

My jaw drops, still, as I repeat this tale, but piddling things like this drive employees, vendors, and contractors batty who have to deal with these firms.

I’ve heard countless episodes about small businesses that either stiff their employees and supply sources outright, by not paying them, or who treat them as if they are banks; sources of ongoing, interest-free loans.

When asking about their checks, these poor folks are shot a look that says: “Are you kidding? You’re having all this fun working for me, and you expect to be paid, as well?”

Bizarre business owners need to think bigger, and focus on what really counts in building profits. They also need to avoid those petty behaviors that only serve to de-motivate their employees and suppliers.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.