Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Yes, the "better safe than sorry" was my thinking, back in the music example above. And it totally failed.

Another expression is be safe and sorry.

It comes down to WHO are you developing, both personally and professionally. Just because you`re offering your work for someone else to use, does that mean you`re developing *them* professionally? Far too many people would say yes!

No, you`re not! You`re developing your Self professionally! That`s why we have résumés! Who looks at the companies you`ve worked for, then contacts those companies for their business? They`re only interested in what YOU have done, and that you did it "somewhere" only shows that you got actual, hands-on experience.

I`d rather go to the new company, bringing with me my friendly customers. It`s no different than a salon stylist who leaves and takes her following, or a house band who goes to a new club and brings their following.

Exactly who are these customers following? The employer....or the person performing the work!

Here are a few things to think about. 

 

Many employers seek to hire employees from other companies for the sole purpose of getting customer contacts or trade secrets.  This may be you main value to your new employer. 

 

Also, making a copy of a customer database to take with you might be considered theft of intellectual property.  You may have even have signed a non-disclosure agreement which bars you from releasing company information such as customer information to another employer.  Theft of such a database or disclosure of the information could wind you up in a court of law

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The older we get, the more excuses we make for not chasing after our dreams. But truth is, goals are attainable at any age.

To answer eveyones concern I have nevered signed anything.

I have a daily relationship with my customers, so after informaing as a favor to them so they are not blind sided when I leave, they ask me, where am I going and can I do the same thing for them, where I will end up.  It is as simple as that.

Thank you for all the feedback, out of 300 + customers that have accounts with us, up to 30 may opt to seek my services elsewhere, definitely 10 of them at minimum. These are account I worked really hard to pleaseand aquire, and so I guess I do feel a little possesive of them.

Thanks again everyone.

Mike

 

It drives me crazy when a hairdresser leaves a salon & I find out about it when I call to make an appt.   And then to be told they don`t know where she went? Oh come on.  

I don`t think departing employees should TRY to take their customers with them (by offering discounts, taking a customer list, etc).  Let `em know when  you`re leaving, where you`re going & then it`s up to them who they want to do business with.  Who knows, you may not like the new employer & someday want to return to the former employer.  My niece did that back & forth a number of times with two software development companies -- as she says, "Never burn your bridges."   

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