Only 6 months into my new business and had to can someone. I hated it but it was best for the business. Kids nowadays just think that they deserve a check without being a greenhorn first. I found a young butcher that was out of work to replace him, bet he can chop line!
It's never easy being the boss.
i've always looked at it as addition by subtraction. not fun, but it has to be done sometimes.
That’s just part of being a business owner.
As one, you have the fun task of sorting through the weeds to get to the flowers. When you do discover the flowers be sure to nourish them accordingly and your business will flourish as well.
Mine did!
Have a great week! B-)
I'm just glad to see you weren't a solo-operator. One firing could have been some real problems. 😉
> Kids nowadays just think that they deserve a check ....
It's not just "nowadays"
:good:
Well, you do know that was a propaganda piece right? It was very popular at the time in war departments and corporate boardrooms. But the author admitted it was embelished to the extreme and meant as a message of obediance (to that pesky individualistic american population).
But I agree, people are the same all over and at all times in history. Some are not worth much as employee or employer. Some are really good at one or the other or both.
For the other side of the story we could look at the interviews of victims of the triangle fire, who worked long hours (delivered the message) and were rewarded with locked doors and death.
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/primary/survivorInterviews/MaryDomskyAbrams.html
As always, the contrary may be shown.
But I'm sure there was good reason for the termination in the original post. Just have to put out the contrary view to these types of posts.
> For the other side of the story we could look at the interviews of victims of the triangle fire, who worked long hours (delivered the message) and were rewarded with locked doors and death.
This could easily go P&R. So I'll resist that urge. But the point was that employers have been frustrated with some employees for as long as there have been employers and employees. It isn't a modern development.
Yeah, not trying to get P&R, just balancing is all. I get the point and just trying to show both sides. I've run my own businesses, and for what it's worth wanted to fire all the students when I first started teaching as well. But I've seen some really remarkable turn arounds in people when treated the right way. Which does not mean coddling them. Sometimes a fail or a fire (oops, I mean fired from the job, not the triangle fire thing) is the best thing for them.
:good:
I think some employers lose sight of the fact that employment is a two way contract, which is one of many reason I'm glad to be solo and not have to work to make someone else money, or deal with the problems associated with someone else working for me to make me money ... What Norman wrote can also easily be written as: "But the point was that employees have been frustrated with some employers for as long as there have been employers and employees."
> I think some employers lose sight of the fact that employment is a two way contract....
This.
I have to constantly remind myself of my obligation to the eight guys I manage. When they chose to work for my organization rather that some other, they effectively put their careers in my hands. If I don't do everything I can to educate, challenge, pushed them to excel and ultimately put them in a position to succeed; then I've failed them and their families. Compared to that responsibility, turning a profit for my bosses is a piece of cake.
> > I think some employers lose sight of the fact that employment is a two way contract....
>
> This.
>
> I have to constantly remind myself of my obligation to the eight guys I manage. When they chose to work for my organization rather that some other, they effectively put their careers in my hands. If I don't do everything I can to educate, challenge, pushed them to excel and ultimately put them in a position to succeed; then I've failed them and their families. Compared to that responsibility, turning a profit for my bosses is a piece of cake.
Finally somebody hits the nail on the effen head. Thank you Mr.Fleming. I've been saying this for the longest on both this and the old forum. The same could be said for a Client relationship, when demands become unreasonable...money has to take a back seat.
Ralph
Well said James!
> I have to constantly remind myself of my obligation to the eight guys I manage.....
I couldn't agree more. And I try to live up to that ideal with the people I manage. But management isn't about adopting a philosophy and then trying to make everyone who comes to you fit it. Not all are on a career track. Some guys are there to collect a paycheck and don't care about you, your business, or the profession. That is just reality.
Many, perhaps most, will respond to a nurturing work environment. Then sometimes you get an employee who isn't worthy of your time and energy. You have to let that person go.
> > I have to constantly remind myself of my obligation to the eight guys I manage.....
> I couldn't agree more. And I try to live up to that ideal with the people I manage. But management isn't about adopting a philosophy and then trying to make everyone who comes to you fit it. Not all are on a career track. Some guys are there to collect a paycheck and don't care about you, your business, or the profession. That is just reality.
>
> Many, perhaps most, will respond to a nurturing work environment. Then sometimes you get an employee who isn't worthy of your time and energy. You have to let that person go.
Exactly Norman. I once made the mistake of assuming that a guy wanted to learn more about surveying. Never made that mistake again. Complete waste of my time. He only wanted to collect a paycheck and go home. Some folks only want to be robots and do the same thing over and over, others take advantage of the opportunities they're presented with, as I did.
> ... Some guys are there to collect a paycheck and don't care about you, your business, or the profession...
I'd like to expand on this statement of mine. Just being there to collect a paycheck isn't really a problem. As long as there is respect for the job, the business, the coworkers, and the profession, that can be okay. Do a good job for good pay and go home, if that is what you are looking for. Every business can use such people. I've worked with plenty of people whose lives where focused on their family, church, school, etc. and worked as surveyors for the paycheck only. Good people. But I didn't waste my time trying to teach them the finer points.
> > ... Some guys are there to collect a paycheck and don't care about you, your business, or the profession...
> I'd like to expand on this statement of mine. Just being there to collect a paycheck isn't really a problem. As long as there is respect for the job, the business, the coworkers, and the profession, that can be okay. Do a good job for good pay and go home, if that is what you are looking for. Every business can use such people. I've worked with plenty of people whose lives where focused on their family, church, school, etc. and worked as surveyors for the paycheck only. Good people. But I didn't waste my time trying to teach them the finer points.
:good: :good:
I agree it takes all types. As an owner I have to realize that the surveying is the easy part, managing the egos and accepting people for what they are and not what I want them to be is the hard part. Everybody has a different tempo and rhythm with which they operate.
Ralph
> That’s just part of being a business owner.
> As one, you have the fun task of sorting through the weeds to get to the flowers. When you do discover the flowers be sure to nourish them accordingly and your business will flourish as well.
>
> Mine did!
>
> Have a great week! B-)
At this point in my business I am looking for a person that wants to learn while earning a fair wage. I am looking forward to training my replacement. Maybe 10 or 15 years down the road, if I have done my job correctly,the once young green horn will buy me out.
I do agree that there is a place for an employee that is just looking for a check.
I spoke with a professor about lining up an intern or two for me this coming summer. In the past we have had good luck with interns.
Thanks to all for your comments and advice.
