Forget the paycheck, learn the business
75 of the 100 companies on the Profit 100 list practice some form of open-book management. It means that employees know how the business is doing, and how they can make it better.
These 75 employers get it. Unfortunately, most employers still don't get it. They think that by hiding the (business) truth from employees, they can get these very same employees to commit to their job and work hard.
On second thought, it is quite natural for capitalists to hide business knowhow from employees. After all, you don't want your employees to learn about the business, quit and start a business that competes against you!
This is why Robert Kiyosaki often wrote that "learning business (how to make money)" is worth more than "getting a paycheck." And he actually did practice what he is preaching now: in the 70s, he went to work FOR FREE for Anthony Robbins to set up workshops and seminars in Hawaii.
The question, simply put, is this: "Would you rather receive 5 fish for the work you perform every day and not learn anything useful about business, or would you rather receive as payment only 1 fish, but learn from the business owner how he creates value and sells it to customers in order to have a sustainable business enterprise?"
The above simple question strikes at the heart of how important freedom is to you. If you don't mind having to show up at the office 9 to 5 every day until you retire at 65 (that is, you don't care about having the freedom to live your life the way you WANT it), then being an employee is okay.
But if you want freedom, it may be worth it to look into business and try to learn from as many sources as possible (your employer, the intranet, coworkers, business books, and of course, this blog!).
In fact, to help people learn about business (it's really, really simple, no matter what the MBA people will tell you!), I created this blog: www.businessmodelworkout.blogspot.com. I also created the worldwide BMW Club, which anyone can join in order to learn and discuss business issues. Contact me for details.
These 75 employers get it. Unfortunately, most employers still don't get it. They think that by hiding the (business) truth from employees, they can get these very same employees to commit to their job and work hard.
On second thought, it is quite natural for capitalists to hide business knowhow from employees. After all, you don't want your employees to learn about the business, quit and start a business that competes against you!
This is why Robert Kiyosaki often wrote that "learning business (how to make money)" is worth more than "getting a paycheck." And he actually did practice what he is preaching now: in the 70s, he went to work FOR FREE for Anthony Robbins to set up workshops and seminars in Hawaii.
The question, simply put, is this: "Would you rather receive 5 fish for the work you perform every day and not learn anything useful about business, or would you rather receive as payment only 1 fish, but learn from the business owner how he creates value and sells it to customers in order to have a sustainable business enterprise?"
The above simple question strikes at the heart of how important freedom is to you. If you don't mind having to show up at the office 9 to 5 every day until you retire at 65 (that is, you don't care about having the freedom to live your life the way you WANT it), then being an employee is okay.
But if you want freedom, it may be worth it to look into business and try to learn from as many sources as possible (your employer, the intranet, coworkers, business books, and of course, this blog!).
In fact, to help people learn about business (it's really, really simple, no matter what the MBA people will tell you!), I created this blog: www.businessmodelworkout.blogspot.com. I also created the worldwide BMW Club, which anyone can join in order to learn and discuss business issues. Contact me for details.
posted by Super Peter at 10:53 AM
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