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My dad worked for General Motors for 37 years, his only full-time employer. My wife’s dad worked for Du Pont for 35 years after a brief stint with IBM. Who knows – he might have been with IBM for 37 years if Image may be NSFW.
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they had permanently assigned him to the Nashville office rather than sending him to Upstate New York.
My career, which began at a local church as a youth pastor, and which includes three significant “employment” eras in the corporate world – plus two 5-year runs of owning my own small business as a sole means of support – has been a much different path.
I’m finishing year five of my second small business foray and I’ve been asked if I’m worried about not being with a big company in what may be the worst economic times since the Great Depression. Sure. But, four years ago General Motors needed money from the government or it was going to blow past Chapter 11 into Chapter 7, which meant the doors would close.
I’ve been told I’m the luckiest guy in the world for owning my own company. I’ve been told I’m crazy. Both statements are undoubtedly wrong – and right – for different reasons! Bottom line, I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all plan for navigating the white water rapids of today’s workplace. My inclination is that I won’t return to corporate (never say never), but that doesn’t mean my plan is best for you. Know thyself.
I would offer three simple observations for small business entrepreneurs – and for those working in a large corporation and everything in between.
- Everyone needs more than one “customer.” Your employer may be your boss and your means of financial support, but your employer is also a customer for your services. Is it smart to have one customer? Maybe it was in a bygone era but in times of economic turbulence, when many companies are struggling to stay alive, that’s probably not the case. But isn’t that kind of thinking disloyal and dishonest? I’m obviously not condoning or advocating the stealing of time and resources from the one paying you, but there’s nothing dishonorable in using gifts and skills, some of which may not have an outlet in your primary business, in ways that meet the needs of other customers.
- Hard work is the order of the day. Duh. That may seem too obvious to mention but let’s face it, despite tough times we still live in an incredibly comfortable epoch of world history – with lots of our free time devoted to entertainment. A friend – and yes, he too is independent and entrepreneurial in his mindset – sent me this word of wisdom recently: “He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgement” (Proverbs 12:11).
- Ultimately, there is no security in your own labors. So what’s the point in trying? There is great reward in working hard and working savvy, but the only true security is found in faith in God. The words of Job, who was the wealthiest man of his day, who lost his wealth, his health, and his family in a series of calamities, still ring true today: “Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return” (15:31).
So whether your small business is booming or you are frantically considering other options, you are not alone. Not only are others walking your path, but God is with you each step of the way as well. ‘Welcome to the wild side!’
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mark Gilroy is author of the critically acclaimed novel Cuts Like a Knife. A 30-year veteran of the publishing industry, he has served as publisher and executive vice president at several companies and currently runs a company that services retailers, publishers, ministries, and other organizations in the industry.
