Ok, so a little rant here today. I was BBQing chicken (over REAL charcoal) and I was reminded of this story that is often used as an example in business settings. … Basically, there is a project at a big company. We will call the project, “breakfast” and the two employees that worked on the project “breakfast” are a “chicken” and a “pig.”
After the project is over, the boss man looks at the participants and says, “Well, great job, but while the chicken merely contributed to the project (by laying eggs), the pig was truly committed (by giving his life).”
So as the story goes, I have seen senior VPs and such send around the story via email and use it as a rallying cry for all of use “pigs” to get committed to the “company.” (full story here on Wikipedia)
So here is my vid on that, and then you’ll need to do a little more reading than normal afterward in order to get point.
Some of you may begin to think I am some sort of liberal who hates rich people. Truth is, I am not the type who you can fit into a box like that, but I do despise CEOs and the like who are in positions of leadership that they did not truly earn. (yeah, I don’t think a guy deserves a lofty position just cuz he sits/sat on a board of directors, or because his great uncle sits/sat on that same board, or because he went to the same school as some other ass-wipe at the top, etc)
I could ramble more on that…
But I have yet to see/meet/hear about a Fortune 500 CEO who started on the front lines of a company and worked his way to the top and NEVER lost his since of being a real/normal dude or dedette. They all go to the other side and become ass-hats. (some are already ass-hats when they take over a CEO spot… ever wonder why they only last 4-5 years or so?.. because there is always a bigger-ass-hat above them, LOL)
So back to this topic. Is it just me, or is it completely arrogant for a business leader to think it is “ok” for a worker to “give his life” for the business? Is the business so important as to ruin a man’s home life and deprive him of his family?
On a further note, some of you may begin to get the idea that I am not thankful for the fact that I have a job in this economy. On the contrary my friends; I am very thankful to have a good-paying job. I am thankful that the company I work for is extremely healthy during this time. However, does that mean it is ok for the company to use the bad economy as an excuse to work employees harder and make them choose between work and family/home life?
Where is the big company that will take the high road and say, “Dear employees, you guys are awesome and because of you, we are soaring in profits during this economy and we are going to give you more benefits and perks (like time off) as a way to say ‘thanks’ and earn yet more of your loyalty!”
Or maybe this one? …”We know that home life is important and if your family structure is healthy, your work life will be healthy, so we want all of you to work from home 1 day per week.”
Anybody know a company like that? Or are the healthy ones using a bad economy as an excuse to beat the sheep, or, in other words, sacrifice more pigs?
Does your boss tell you, “you are lucky to have a job!” …to me guys, that is arrogance!
Lastly, I am a HUGE supporter of small business and entrepreneurship! That is why internet marketing is so great! It holds great potential for those of us who went to community college and didn’t join the rich kids’ fraternity.
Thoughts? …all are welcome…
