Owners & Temps

Owners & Temps

Billionaire Robert Friedland bought my African telecoms company, Geopath.net, back in 1999.? I learned a lot from Robert traveling around the world with him for the next year, but one comment he made to me sticks with me to this day.? He told me, “Rob, there’s only two kinds of people in this world. Owners and Temps.”

It is so true.?

And I think of this whenever a prospective candidate hangs up in my ear when I pitch them a new opportunity.? It goes something like this, “Hey Rob, why would I want to talk with a headhunter like you…I am perfectly happy here…don’t ever call me again.”? Click.

Or this, “Rob, by calling me at my workplace, you could be jeopardizing my career if my boss ever discovered I was talking with a recruiter…don’t ever call me again…take me off your list...now.”

What these folks fail to grasp is they are always two weeks from being shown the door.? They are a Temp.

Supervisor: “I'm very sorry. We’ve been acquired…restructuring…here’s your two-weeks’ notice…thank you very much for your service.”?

Many of you reading this right are thinking, “Couldn’t happen to me.”?

Really?

I received a call two weeks ago from a very well-respected COO with a regional insurance broker.? He was making $375k + bonuses + stock options.? He was terminated on his birthday – a Friday.?

He called me before he told his wife.? There was desperation in his voice.? I felt sorry for him.? He had hung up in my ear just a month earlier while I was in midst of a COO search laughing that he had it so good.?

Owners & Temps.

Just received a call this past Tuesday from an insurance producer who was called into her supervisor’s office at 5PM.? She was immediately terminated along with the rest of her department of 50 employees.? She was not even given a two-weeks’ notice.? She called begging for help.? She had blocked my emails and phone number earlier in the year.?

What’s my point?? Anything can happen in the marketplace.?

Owners & Temps.

The hard truth is that if you are an employee, you work for a piece of paper on the wall.? It’s called a corporation.? Corporations don't have souls.

What can you do?? Here are a few things to consider:

1.?????? Keep track of your quantitative accomplishments.? Update your resume regularly. Be ready.

2.?????? Have a well-placed and influential mentor.? When it comes to staffing cuts, this could save you.

3.?????? Continually hone your skills.? Get your professional certifications.? Take that spreadsheet course. Get serious. Get focused.

4.?????? Develop and maintain a positive relationship with a recruiter who specializes in your industry.

5.?????? If you can't be an owner, then own what you do. Take personal responsibility. Be accountable. Be the best that you can be. This is Extreme Ownership which, in the end, is more powerful than owning a company.

This blog today was inspired by a handful of readers who have recently encountered a similar situation very recently.

Rob