Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

So many of us on Start Up Nation are still working for the man. Have you ever stopped to think, as you plan your business that you may, indeed become the man (or woman)?

 

I have and I`m struggling with that truth now. Luckily I`ve worked for bosses that have been good and bad. I`m trying to compile some behaviors from helping me become the hated man.

But here`s the other part. We`re all about entreprenuership here. I can`t see myself working for someone else. But what about my employees? Should I foster the creative drive to start up thier own business? Or are some people happy working for the man?

 

This is all just pie in the sky stuff but I`m curious, how do you current business people foster entreprenuership among your staff. SUN Staffers feel free to jump in.

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Follow the journey of Marvin Hawkins Visual Concepts and Nothing Like It Games at http://gamerdeveloper.blogspot.com/

Just a quick comment on "Or are some people happy working for the man?"

Yes, thank goodness!  I think many people (if not most) are happy working for the man to some degree, even if they won`t admit it.  There is a lot of comfort and security with the man.  (Much more so then being an entrep.)  I would never stifle anyone`s entrepeneurial spirit because I find it a great and fascinating quality (I say that as a fellow entrepeneur) but I certainly don`t poopoo or think any less of someone because they are happy with their job working for someone else.  What a horrible place it would be in a world full of Chiefs and no Indians!

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Leslie
Founder and President
Charmed Life Products LLC
Grill Charms™… The MUST HAVE grilling accessory that is revolutionizing the American Cook-out AND The perfect gift for any occasion!
Grill Charms
                                                                                                    

"workin` for the man" only qualifies as "workin` for the man" when you don`t like what you do. i know a TON of great people working at huge companies who are totally stimulated and fulfilled. i hope they stay put (and, yes, start a side business for fun!)

when we at StartupNation refer to those people who are "workin` for the man", we`re identifying with those millions of people who are "stuck", "unhappy", "wanting a better life".

and we believe that working for yourself is the best way to remedy all of this!

rich


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Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

In gearing up to lead a business and build a company, I`ve done a lot of
reading about leadership. I`ve still more to learn for sure because I do
want to be able to manage the people and company successfully. And I
too have thought about what it means to become "the man".

In building a company from scratch, one has the ability to instill certain
values into a corporate culture. What I am learning is that you have to be
aware of these things from the start. It is entirely possible create a
culture of innovation and entrepreneurial ideals. How? That depends on
many variables for different companies, however an openness of idea
sharing between all people and departments is a great place to start. If
people feel they can make a difference, they will voice their ideas. This is
a great way to always have fresh ideas circulating throughout the
company.

What I speak of here is having a culture of innovation within the company.
However, you kind of bring up the idea of supporting employees to
become entrepreneurs and strike out on their own. You`ll want to
encourage growth in your employees and it is up to them wether they
apply it to your company or their own.

This goes back to the question of if people are happy working for others.
As already mentioned, many people are. While often they don`t think like
an entrepreneur, they can be very innovative. Like I said before, you just
have to be able to foster that innovation in your company`s culture for
your own growth.

I try to be a good boss ... it`s hard sometimes, as I get really busy myself. I try to trust their instincts and listen to them and provide career growth and learning. I try to have weekly "roundtables" to toss all the products on the table. I try to keep them informed and let them benefit from going the extra mile. We`re very new, and new together ... so we`re all learning as one.

I know some people that don`t want to work independently, don`t want to go out on their own. Some do.

Rich hit the nail right on the head defining "working for the man."

"how do you current business people foster entreprenuership among your staff. "
Think that the best way for companies to do that is to provide employees with stock ownership options i/e ESOPs, Company Stock Accounts in Qualified Plans, Employee Stock Purchase Plans or Broad-Based Stock Option Plans. I prefer Employee Stock Purchase Plans because the employee has to make a continued effort in becoming a stock holder, it gives him/her the greatest benefits and it affords the company the most control of it`s stock.

By being a stock holder the employee ceases to be (just) an employee and becomes an associate of the owner(s), his long term success is tied to the success of the company. This makes him/her have a vested interest in ensuring that the company succeeds, he is no longer in it just for the next paycheck.

We`ve seen being tossed around a figure that about 5% of the population drives the remainder of the people in terms of getting new things introduced, creating things, and so forth. What about those other 95%?

I think it`s pretty much "human nature," whatever that means, for most people to want to follow someone else, be told what to do, and live for security. So yes, a lot of people really do want to work for someone else. Not much risk that way.

My bosses are always very supportive of their team`s needs and opportunities.  While I`m here, I`m here- and they expect 110%- but as I was hired on full-time I was able to talk to my boss about the fact that I might need to pursue other opportunities.  He told me he understood- and supported my decision either way.  The thing is- that kind of respect and freedom made me feel secure and happy with my "job."  This is a startup, but it`s not MY business.  However, not working for myself is made easier by having a boss who doesn`t fret about workforce.  He`s happy to give people training and help them gain experience, and then happy the let them move on, even help them when it`s time.

Here`s a blog I wrote about my findings in my office.  You can be the man without having to be that man.



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Erin Hattaway
bootstrapbusiness.org

My 2 cents, and then some, I`m sure:

The figure you mention Craig L, likely comes form the 95/5:5/95 reality that exists in America (and this does relate to a post I had on one of your topics earlier). 95% of America is either employeed or self-employeed, and they control, as a group, 5% of the wealth in the US. The other 5% are comprised of B-type business owners and large scale investors (not 401k people, think Paul Allen types), and they control 95% of the wealth in the US.

If you are planning on shifting out of the 95% to the 5%, getting back to the original topic, then I don`t think there is anything wrong with needing people from where you came from. As has been mentioned, most people are fine with being employees. While the only value I personally see in being an employee is immediate income, there are things others value in this style of acquiring money. If you provide that for others who want that, just because you wouldn`t want to be in their shoes, doesn`t make it immoral, unethical, or wrong in any way.

But that`s just my opinion. Even if that employee wishes to be in your shoes, they`ll have to learn what they need to learn, and do what they need to do, to make it out. I would say that in that case you would be doing right by them if you were to share your feelings, knowledge, etc. of how you got out. If they want out of the rat-race, encourage them and congratulate them when they make it out. Even if it is a race you own. :)


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Team: Leadership Development Service Provider
"If you`re going the opposite direction of everyone else, keep going." - Sam Walton
"If you know how much you make per hour, you don`t make much." - Orrin Woodward

I think the only way to "foster an entrepreneurial environment," so to speak, is to be optimistic, supportive, but also offer a reasoned critique of ideas people have for a business. You can`t create or foster the entrepreneurial desire itself; I think that`s an internal characteristic of various people. But you can definitely be supportive instead of derisive, when nervous people with an idea come to you to ask, "So...waddya think?"