Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am NOT an entrepreneur, I`m the go to guy. How come there is no help on the SuN for the guy like me that is stuck with the heavy lifting? I am the guy that is constantly caught between ownership, trying to strike the balance between my entrepreneur owner and his wife, the keeper of the checkbook! I am always the bad guy when things are getting off the ground, and the magician a couple of years from now when ownship is rolling in dough! I need some help and tools to be able to demonstrate to all of my ownership the value of "the plan" the value of taking the time to write policy, procedure and decide what products and profit margins are appropriate for our industry. How do I, as an employee, convince ownship that just making sales will not solve all problems.

Thanks for the forum that lets me vent to those that would understand my plight.

Joe

TheStoneGuy

I think you`ve done a good job explaining/venting your frustration here.  If you haven`t, sit down with these two people and explain everything as you have done here.  You`ll feel like you`re "sticking your neck out", but it sounds like these people trust your abilities and your insight.

Whatever happens, keep us posted on the results.

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Daniel the Denim Doctor

Hi there Joe... :-)
I think actually, there IS help for guys like you! There are always new threads, and of course archived ones, all about how to get out from under a "boss" and start your own business.

Think in terms of a band or an orchestra. Certain instruments naturally are lead instruments. So, for example, the keyboards, guitar, or harp would be able to stand alone in a solo gig.

Then there are those instruments that lend themselves more to accompaniment. A tuba, triangle, drums, or tambourine might be an example.

Although it`s "normal" for the accompanying instruments to have to rely on the lead instruments, I can think of two contradictions to the assumption. In an orchestra, there always comes a time when pretty much any accompanying instrument takes a solo. In other cases, people put together unusual groups using non-traditional leads.

A chamber music group doesn`t have a piano. The violinist at a restaurant doesn`t use anyone else. The gypsy dancer with her thumb cymbals or tambourine doesn`t have any other instruments.

Your first issue is to decide whether you`re a lead or accompanying instrument, in terms of both your skills AND your personality. The second is to decide what you want to do about it.

You sound as if you might have accidentally allowed yourself to fall into a co-dependency relationship, and you`re not getting a lot of satisfaction from it. The solution, if that`s the case, is to walk away and start your own business. Y`know? :-)

Thanks Guys,

I`ll be "sticking my neck out" a little later today. I will be sitting down with my entrepreneur/owner and his recent college grad daughter/my boss and presenting my first quarter sales plan. Wish me luck!

As far as the insturmental references, well I guess I started out a long time ago as "third tuba" in the orchestra, but I have found myself playing lead guitar for four of the last five people I have worked for. I have also gone as far as I could go, (short of marrying the owner`s daughter) then moved on to another challenge. I have even been asked back twice for repeat performances, as I am doing now. Playing lead guitar has always left me living paycheck to paycheck, "starting my own band" has always been a dream of how to get from the last paycheck to the first draw check! Being the father of six, I alway take the safe bet on the paycheck!

Joe

I remember when I was 18, back I think when George Washington was President. One of my first "laws" of life was about the choice between risk and security. Even then I realized that my life would always be circling around those two issues---the steady paycheck versus doing what brought me satisfaction.

Reading all these posts and stories from a world of entrepreneurs, it seems to be a "natural fact" that when you strike out on your own, searching for the ideal, striving for a dream, you pay your dues. And unfortunately, paying those dues seems to always include living paycheck-to-paycheck.

On the other hand, you introduce a "wild card" into your life. Being an employee, you know what you`ll be earning, but you also know you`ll never earn anything more. It`ll always be the same---steady, true, but rarely changing. The wild card of being a startup is that you become a success. Then, the sky`s the limit.

To paraphrase countless cliches, you can`t win big if you don`t play the game. :-) Then again, people always try to reach a balance between security and reasonable risk in relation to what they *literally* feel is acceptable risk.

Joe:

Have you ever considered your strengths that guide your decisions?  You mention "I`m the go to guy, stuck with the heavy lifting, trying to strike the balance, the bad/fall (accepting respnsibility) guy when things are getting off the ground, and the magician/wonder guy, able to demonstrate the value of "the plan" the value of taking the time to write policy, procedure and decide what products and profit margins are appropriate for our industry"  Your new goal: "convince ownship that just making sales will not solve all problems"  and offer solutions.

What makes you think so little of your natural talents nad strengths?  I suggest that you ask to be paid what you are worth and start seeing what you are worth.  It is very easy to worry about how the kids are going to be fed or how you are going to pay for that new pair of roller blades, let alone private school or college.  However, I am realizing that having faith in your God given abilities is very powerful.  You may be the `start-up` guy or the `deal maker` or the ultimate enterpreneur.  Don`t cut yourself short.  See yourself in one of these roles or change your attitude about your current role and make the owners see you the same way you see yourself.  There is nothing wrong with partners.

Okay go guy!

Katherine

Hi Katherine,

Thanks for the kind words of encouragment.

This has been a very interesting week! I have spoken with all three of the company owners individually about pricing, marketing, sales and the sales plan I presented to ownership this past Monday. I believe I have managed to bring all to my side of the table! Changes are taking place and it now looks like full speed ahead!

TheStoneGuy

I am so glad to hear your news.  Life can be good.

Katherine

Hi Katherine,

Any day above ground is a good day!

It took too long, but I think they have finally heard what I have been saying. Sometimes things get lost in translation.

Joe