The Shrewd and The Naive

This post can quickly devolve into what many would describe as class warfare.  OK, so be it.  Let's call out oppression for the sake of profitability - and - the lack of conscience corporations and the economic elite demonstrate.  Not much joy in talking about this, but here we go...

Let me ask a fundamental question this way:    Do you think your employer is looking out for your best interest, or their own?  Some would say yes, my employer understands positive culture and rewarding performance.  These are the lucky ones.  Most laugh at the question as preposterous.  Why is that?

In the Fortune 500 culture, shareholder value takes precedence over everything.  At the end of the day, if a company is not growing and increasing profitability, Management is forced to squeeze what they can control to maintain their "numbers".  The first, most obvious and easiest thing is to cut labor... or to repress labor by short staffing, increasing production requirements and then firing non-achievers... there are as many ways to do this as Heinz has pickles.

The bottom line for you and me is that they depend on our compliance.  We are relegated to fear for our paycheck because many are living hand-to-mouth, month-to-month.  We are manipulated by a system designed to get the most out of us at the least possible cost... with the old notion that a JOB stands for Just Over Broke and as such, most are stuck.

I use the word Shrewd in the title, but perhaps what I mean falls closer to Abusive.  The darker side of shrewdness gives license to executive and management compensation, with those contributing the same hours and talent (providing value) receiving a relative pittance.  Nonetheless, we conform and keep our mouths shut due to the fear of retaliation, which ultimately could mean job loss.

Our community exists to simply pose an alternative.  An option.  A Plan B.  Some "see it".  Most don't.  Here's a way to look at it.

At the end of the day, what we do is no different than giving birth to a child.  When you join us, you give birth to the possibility of a new life.  This requires daily care and attention and your life is inherently different with the advent of this new thing, whether it be a baby or a business.

Most people do not take this responsibility seriously and therefore fail.  It is not the fault of the business model, it falls squarely on the shoulders of people who do or do not invest the time to plan and perform tasks... otherwise known as work.

So, think about your job.  Think about your effort.  Think about being stuck and droning weekly, year after year.  Then, think about investing a similar effort in something you own for yourself and your family.  Think about taking something seriously and changing your circumstances.

It is all possible.