Job Security Myth

Lies my mama told me...

• Go to school and get an education
• Get a good job with some stability.
• Find a nice girl, settle down,

Well I certainly went to school and truth be told there was plenty to learn. From just beyond the toddler stage we're taught the basics. thru middle years, high school & college there were ample things to study and learn... but I didn't get an "education" until I hit the streets, got out into the real world and began to take on life. Sobering wake up call.

Being luckier than some, I fell into a good company and found excellent mentors along my journey in some of the strangest places. Over time, moved up the corporate ladder with one of the top most recognized companies in their field. Working for this corporation for more than 13 years, it became more than a job, it literally became a significant part of my identity. There were great perks and advantages and like many people, I settled into a nice comfortable life. Things were good, house, cars, vacations, toys... all funded by a good job with some stability.

So recently the real world took a turn and reminded me that I still need more education. Life is fragile, we take things for granted. Getting caught up in the day to day. A job is stabile under certain conditions... however normal the conditions are, they are CONDITIONS.... when those conditions are no longer met, stability is gone.

One of my many mentors once told me long ago that his "job security" was his customer base. He could move on from one company to the next, whether he were to be discharged by the company or of his own accord... but as long as he had a customer base that liked and trusted him, he could always plug in another product or service. He explained that people buy from people that they like and trust... bring them a quality product or service that makes sense for them and you'll earn their business... that was his lesson on job security.

That lesson rings true as we all endure this global pandemic... especially the community here at WA. Build your business, find people that like and trust you, bring them quality products and services that enhance their lives and make sense for them and you'll earn their business.

At some point, the world will get back to some sense of normal, perhaps it will never be exactly the same, but we'll settle back down. The challenge I set forth for us all is to remember this lesson and move forward with your business with a sense of urgency. It will be easy to get back to life as usual and neglect the hard work and effort it takes to build this business. We'll want to catch a ballgame or go to a concert and possibly get dinner before the show...and we should do all of these things... but never forget the lesson that we're learning today and build your own "job security".

What about the nice girl & settling down?

Mama wasn't wrong about everything!

Bob