One of the Hardest Struggles as Business Owner

[Barefootsies]

To come to the realization that most people's 100% will barely equate to your 50%.

[Shap]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

To come to the realization that most people's 100% will barely equate to your 50%.

I have to agree

[chronig]

Not nearly one of the hardest struggles ...

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

One of the Hardest Struggles as Business Owner

Is to STFU and mind your own business.

.

[CaptainHowdy]

Others might think you're giving only your 50% as well...

[tony286]

I had a boss and he taught me, one of hardest things to learn as a boss. Is your people are not you and until you come to terms with that being a boss can be very frustrating.

[PR_Glen]

how much is arrogance worth? How about pride for that matter?

there are people much bigger and better than you that don't view others as beneath them and incapable. Someone who is truly great can find and learn something brilliant from anyone.

I'm sure we all can learn a lot more from them than ones who talk about being better than the rest all the time instead...

[CyberHustler]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

how much is arrogance worth? How about pride for that matter?

there are people much bigger and better than you that don't view others as beneath them and incapable. Someone who is truly great can find and learn something brilliant from anyone.

I'm sure we all can learn a lot more from them than ones who talk about being better than the rest all the time instead...

[Shap]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

how much is arrogance worth? How about pride for that matter?

there are people much bigger and better than you that don't view others as beneath them and incapable. Someone who is truly great can find and learn something brilliant from anyone.

I'm sure we all can learn a lot more from them than ones who talk about being better than the rest all the time instead...

LOL I knew there would be this typical reply from an employee. He's not saying he's better than anyone. If you owned your own company you would understand what he is saying. It comes down to caring not being better than someone.

[woj]

Very true, but that's just how it is... Employees usually make a small fraction of the business' profit, and they are immune from any losses, so obviously they don't work as hard..

[Twoface31]

always the strugle of a business when you business got a serious situation....

[Nautilus]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

To come to the realization that most people's 100% will barely equate to your 50%.

So to equate your 100% they need to post at GFY twice as hard.

[Jim_Gunn]

It really depends on what you are using people for and how. If you are using them to do busy work that you could otherwise do yourself it may be like that. But if they are skilled workers, I don't agree. My organization is very lean and I try to use technology whenever possible to make my work more efficient. When I do hire people to work for me, part time or otherwise, I usually hire people who are actually skilled at what I need who can do quicker and much better work than me at the tasks I need from them like graphic design with Photoshop, web design, html, CSS or animation for video.

So those skilled people are giving more than what would be my 100% by far on those kind of tasks. The trick is finding those talented people, locally which I prefer, or remotely otherwise, and treating them in such a way that they don't mind doing skilled work on a flexible basis in in doing so one can leverage their talents to make one's own work & product better than they otherwise would be.

[_Richard_]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

how much is arrogance worth? How about pride for that matter?

there are people much bigger and better than you that don't view others as beneath them and incapable. Someone who is truly great can find and learn something brilliant from anyone.

I'm sure we all can learn a lot more from them than ones who talk about being better than the rest all the time instead...

learning from people you don't understand would be worth more than dismissing them?

that makes far too much sense, to make any sense at all

[_Richard_]

Originally Posted by Shap

LOL I knew there would be this typical reply from an employee. He's not saying he's better than anyone. If you owned your own company you would understand what he is saying. It comes down to caring not being better than someone.

if someone delivered you a project you thought was 50%, and they thought 100%, wouldn't that be a failing of communication for both parties?

[Amputate Your Head]

don't think you can... know you can.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by tony286

I had a boss and he taught me, one of hardest things to learn as a boss. Is your people are not you and until you come to terms with that being a boss can be very frustrating.

Exactamundo.

Very difficult indeed.

[troncarver]

....is to get sig spotting banned when you are a sigge ze spottin

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Jim_Gunn

It really depends on what you are using people for and how. If you are using them to do busy work that you could otherwise do yourself it may be like that. But if they are skilled workers, I don't agree. My organization is very lean and I try to use technology whenever possible to make my work more efficient. When I do hire people to work for me, part time or otherwise, I usually hire people who are actually skilled at what I need who can do quicker and much better work than me at the tasks I need from them like graphic design with Photoshop, web design, html, CSS or animation for video.

So those skilled people are giving more than what would be my 100% by far on those kind of tasks. The trick is finding those talented people, locally which I prefer, or remotely otherwise, and treating them in such a way that they don't mind doing skilled work on a flexible basis in in doing so one can leverage their talents to make one's own work & product better than they otherwise would be.

Agreed.

That was another challenge. Basically letting go of some of the petty tasks. Realizing your time is simply better spend contracting that work out so you can focus on your business.

When I started, I used to write code, and do the design, and all that shit myself. Now I farm out almost all of that shit to those who are better, more proficient, more cost effective, or it's their expertise. It becomes simply a better use of your time as a business owner to delegate and go sit at the head of the table.

The next step is my O.P.. Realizing others most likely will never match YOUR 100%.

[NETbilling]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

To come to the realization that most people's 100% will barely equate to your 50%.

Most people don't give 100%. That is part of the problem. But when you find employees that do, it is important to hang on to them.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Shap

LOL I knew there would be this typical reply from an employee. He's not saying he's better than anyone. If you owned your own company you would understand what he is saying. It comes down to caring not being better than someone.

Exactly right on all points.

[The Porn Nerd]

For most people, working 9-5 is "freedom". Doesn't seem like it on the surface - workin' for the MAN, etc, tote that bale - but an employee doesn't have to worry about keeping the lights on, paying payroll taxes, swings in business, etc. He/She gets their $500 a week (or however much) and that's that. They KNOW what they're going to be making that week, unlike business owners who's "income", after expenses etc, can vary WILDLY from week-to-week. Owning your own business is exciting and gives you more control but it's also filled with unease, stress, nervousness, etc etc.

Employees face the stress of being fired, of course, or laid off, but not the stresses of actually maintaing the business. So no, an employee will not, generally, care more than "the Boss" unless that employee feels like they are part of the business, profit-sharing-wise.

EDIT: Hiring people so you can spend more time doing other things to grow your business is KEY. Of course, FINDING those people...

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by NetBilling

Most people don't give 100%. That is part of the problem. But when you find employees that do, it is important to hang on to them.

So fucking true mother fucking dat!

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by woj

Very true, but that's just how it is... Employees usually make a small fraction of the business' profit, and they are immune from any losses, so obviously they don't work as hard..

Nor really care. They are simply a pay check player.

However, to truly grow your business, you have to hire minions or contract out that work. At some point, it is more than one person can do and you have to start taking on staff. Once you do, that is when you start having to let go as it were. Realizing employees are not you in regards to your demands for service, product, quality, support, whatever your business is about.

That bar will almost always be higher for the owner.

[pornguy]

Sadly you forgot to mention that everyone here in GFY gives 1000%

[ShellyCrash]

No one will ever do it the way you do, and sometimes it's hard to delegate and let certain things go. I've found though that working towards making your employees feel personally vested in your company's success helps alot.

Also it's important to make your staff feel that you are confident in their abilities. It's good to have them feel that you're not afraid to get your hands dirty and do even the most menial task when it needs to be done, but it's a fine line between that and doing too much where you leave your guys feeling like you don't trust in their skills or lack confidence that they can get the work done to your satisfaction. For example, sometimes it seems easier or quicker when something is done wrong or half assed to just correct it or bang it out on your own, but in the long run it's better for both you and your crew to sit down with them and guide them to bring their work up to where it needs to be.

[datatank]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

To come to the realization that most people's 100% will barely equate to your 50%.

You are lucky if it ='s your 10%
But the good thing is you just need to hire 10 of em, train em well and you freed up yourself hehe

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by ShellyCrash

No one will ever do it the way you do, and sometimes it's hard to delegate and let certain things go. I've found though that working towards making your employees feel personally vested in your company's success helps alot.

Also it's important to make your staff feel that you are confident in their abilities. It's good to have them feel that you're not afraid to get your hands dirty and do even the most menial task when it needs to be done, but it's a fine line between that and doing too much where you leave your guys feeling like you don't trust in their skills or lack confidence that they can get the work done to your satisfaction. For example, sometimes it seems easier or quicker when something is done wrong or half assed to just correct it or bang it out on your own, but in the long run it's better for both you and your crew to sit down with them and guide them to bring their work up to where it needs to be.

Excellent post.