We across the corporate world have read Pamela Slim’s open letter to CxOs. In her letter she is telling those of us in the executive wings how we SHOULD treat our employees. She gives us a good whipping – even calling us oppressive. Yes, we have read it. After our initial anger with her tone and accusations we decided to craft a more reasoned response.

We would like to note right up front that Pamela is not quite fair. Some of us are stellar performers –  leaders people want to follow. But lets go ahead and admit, most of us are gutless figureheads without any desire to really lead. We know it! We get it!

But since you have listened to her letter (and yes – we heard the cheer)  you owe it to us to listen to our side of the story.

First remember that some time ago, we were where you are now. We were frustrated with upper management and the decisions they made. We felt like one day when we ran things we would be different. We would listen to the people. We would make wise decisions based on something beyond this years profits. We would really take excellent care of our customers. We would reward performers. We would, in fact, be different!

The reality has set in. Now that we are at the top we realize we still do not have all that control we thought we would have. Now, instead of being dominated by the boss making stupid decisions, we now seem to have way too many bosses. We really thought we would be THE BOSS and be in control. We really did. Now we struggle daily to dance between the demands of the lawyers, the board, the customers, the stockholders, and even governments.

Our new fears. Just like you, we fear losing it all. Everyday we wake up and look in the mirror and know today is the day we will be found out. People will realize we are incompetent. We will become not only unemployed – but publicly shamed. When one of you lose your job, you are a number. When we lose our job, publications list out all our mistakes. We are shamed. When you lose your job, you pretty much know you can find another – but not us. Will anyone let us lead again? Will anyone trust us again? We confidently and proudly proclaim that we can find other meaningful teams to lead, but underneath it all we are scared to death. As bizarre as it may seem to you, we too fear living in a van down by the river.

We do not mean to proclaim that we are a bunch of imbeciles. We are not. We are highly intelligent people with lots of experience – just like you. Could you do our job? Probably many of you could. Would you be in the same situation after a few years? We bet our fat salaries on it!

Suffice it to say we could answer Pamela’s letter point by point. But, you need to understand the overall issue. Do we want to see the employee as assets – building them up and listening to them? Yes – many of us really do.  When we were where you are now, we dreamed of such. But, when our investors are demanding short-term growth and profits we forget the people and even common sense at times. When the customer is demanding service we demand it be met – even if you are on vacation. We have bought into the idea that the customer comes first. When the competition seems to be getting the edge on us we get crazy and change plans overnight telling all of you that we are leading the industry – but in fact we are just responding and following.

Are we gutless leaders? I am afraid often we are.  We have set aside the desire of being great leaders so we can be pragmatic.

The battles are too many to fight. Were we prepared for this job? No – not really.  Most of us have few leadership skills. We were never taught that. In school, college, and MBA programs we too were taught to follow. To follow the leaders and to follow the processes.

But now that you have blasted us and applauded our faults – let us turn it back to you by addressing SOME of Pamela’s points.

1. Why do we need to change the culture? Because we are told by consultants that is the thing to do! Do we think it sounds silly? Yes. But we also recognize there is a problem. The larger the organization is, the more culture is lost–and so often are results. So what are we after? We want to hire consultants who come in and promise us they can turn our angry mob into a machine where everyone is motivated and everyone performs to the top. We are all free to make it happen – and we as the leaders get to smile down from the top of the mountain. Sounds egotistical? Sure – but have you not dreamed the same thing? Do you want the same out of your teams you lead? I know you do. Pamela suggest the culture starts with our actions. But what actions? We really have lost control. We need someone to tell us what actions to take!
2. The Godfather – Yes, we do get angry when you leave for new opportunities. We know it is shortsighted. We really do want the best for our people – but remember the fear. When you go, what will be revealed? And, quite frankly, often we are jealous. We know, we have already made it in your eyes – but we are strapped with serious golden handcuffs. We wish we could take the risk and run for the new opportunities, but we are stuck here trying to make this deal work.
3. Walk around and talk to you. This is on our to-do list daily. That is the kind of leader we want to be. Some of us are just introverts and this is way out of our comfort zone. We do not hate you. We just prefer to be with people we know well. For the rest of us, we would love to be among the little people (whoops – did we let that slip?). But we have bigger things to do. Our bosses are demanding a ton from us. And when they are not – well we want to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Again – you would be no different.
4. Want us to teach you to be rich? Forget it. We are not sure how we got here anyway. Look at the stats – a small percentage of people get rich doing what we do – but MOST get rich in business for themselves. Study how to do this and you will prosper – that is all we have to offer you. Think you are a better leader? Do it NOW.

We will not bore you with answering every point. We are already way too tempted to put this into a PowerPoint and call town meetings.

Now our advice to YOU.

1. Think you are a better leader? Do it NOW. How would you deal with the points Pamela brings up? You cannot change us – we can promise you that. So now you take the mantle. How do you lead from where you are?
2. Do not waste your life! Do something meaningful. Early on many of us were driven by passion and desire. It has landed us in nice places. Some of us continue to be led by the desire to have real meaning. The rest of us have succumbed to the life of luxury. That is our problem – but what about you? If you do not find working for us meaningful then do something that is.
3. Do not let fear control you. Listen to Pamela. We do have some concerns that many of you will get over your fears and look opportunity straight in the eye and go for it on your own. But in reality we know it will be very few of you. So develop a solid plan and go for it. Fear will always exist. Remember, fear controls even us. You can still overcome! Do it now!

I received this email as part of an application to Information Engineering and Management. I thought it so described what others tell me that I would share it with you. 

Escape From Cubical Quick Sand 

It is 5 by 5 feet wide, 5.5 feet in height and the floor feels like quick sand.

It appears that there is no one around to pull me out, so I must take matters into my own hands and figure out a way to escape.  It, is just a regulation cubical used by 100’s people everyday but for me it’s the hole filled with quicksand from which I must escape.  But how?

Idea after idea comes to me but I just cannot seem to come up with a method to make them work.   I feel the quick sand under my feet as it begins to shift and I begin to sink ever farther.  I am starting to shake and sweat, I can’t seem to catch my breath, but I will not panic, then suddenly I get this great plan of action, use those God given gifts and talents as a ladder that’s been there all of the time and climb, climb, climb.   Enhance my tools and skills; more education, better credentials, information and networking.  Go back to school get a Masters Degree in Information Engineering Management.  Although, I previously earned a degree it has not exactly served me well. Unfortunately, I failed to be as aggressive as needed in that pursuit and thereby a subsequent career path in this area failed to manifest itself.  A now I find myself in this cubical of quick sand needing an immediate means of escape and this is what has brought me to this specific juncture in life.

I need to obtain the knowledge as to how to market, network, package and be financially and emotional rewarded as I use my previous education, experience and skills while affording for new experiences outside of a cubical of quick sand.  Now I ask you, please take my hand help me climb out of the quick sand and then show me the way to personal success and fulfillment as a self empowered entrepreneur.

How about you? Does this describe your career?

The Ugly

I used to teach a lot of undergrad engineering courses. The students were usually so wrapped up in their courses and just getting to graduation that they never looked up to see where they were heading. So I started to tell them – in a lecture I called “Engineering Your Career.” But the wake-up came when I gave them the Good, The Bad and the Ugly – a title  certainly borrowed from the Clint Eastwood film of the same name.

Here are some points I give them about how their life will be five years post-graduation. I call it “Five Years: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

 The Good:

In five years, most of you will be:

• working in a management role,
• working on teams with other disciplines,
• using skills and technologies you have not heard of to date,
• living in a nice house, and
• in the solid middle class looking like you are doing very well.

The Bad:

In five years, most of you will:

• be looking for another job,
• have been fired (called by many names such as ‘downsized’) at least once, and
• have a negative outlook toward your job and company.

The Ugly:

In five years, most of YOU will be:

• worried about making ends meet,
• in serious financial debt,
• suffering from a physical ailment related to stress, and
• feeling trapped.

After I cover this Good/Bad/Ugly part of my presentation (and I do go on to show them hope), I find some of them doubt me, but most seem to be worried about how accurate I might be. I assure them that, after having experienced it personally and having taught and coached hundreds of others, I am sure this is very accurate.

How about you? How many of those Good/Bad/Ugly points directly relate to your life? How did you get here? And more importantly, how did you get through it?

We often reflect on the slavery issue our country has struggled to get past. We have books, movies, and even days to remember the struggles. But, as I look around and meet with people I see new forms of slavery in the most prosperous country in the world.

1. Debt – The debt crisis has overtaken us – and many have become totally enslaved to serving their debt. Their solution to get out is often a more creative slavery relationship through refinancing or “debt-consolidation.” While I do not consider myself to be a financial counselor – I have had to dive into this area of slavery many times. Debt causes people to give up on their dreams since they can never break free from what is holding them back.
2. Corporate America – No… I am not bashing the corporate machine in this country. But lets face it – the Dilbert syndrome has crushed many of our desires and forced many of us into another slavery trap. We now worry about what changes are going to take place in our companies in the coming months – worrying what benefits we may loose, what jobs may go away. Like refinancing deals – we sometimes find a glimmer of hope by changing employers – at least until the reality of the new slave relationship we have just gotten into hits home.
3. Entitlements – Our government (which is “we the people”) in our goodness to take care of our own, have in fact created slaves. I meet with people every week who have the mindset that getting free money from the government – from food stamps to free housing or free tuition – is the way to live. Yet, they are stuck. Again – one law change crushes them – or gives them hope.

Of course you see the problem – neither debt, corporations, nor government programs are the real slave masters – we are. Something has happened in our country that has taken all the spirit away. People in NASA will often say they do not know if they can get back to the moon. The technology is better – but the spirit is missing. Could we ever prosper as a nation if we found times of struggle again? Have we become so soft? In all three cases of modern American slavery we have given up our freedom, hope, and future by taking the easy way out.

Not to be a pessimist though – we can take back control. As I look at my own life and those around me – I think we have lost personal discipline and at the same time we have become to self-centered in society. But who can change that in our culture? I do not think anyone can – but I can change me, and you can change you. No more being a slave because it is the easy thing to do.

Tonight E. Scott Aronow will air his radio interview with me on Career Catalyst Online Radio. Since it is an online station the broadcast will be available from now until Scott takes it down.

I really enjoyed talking to Scott during and after this show. Usually these shows give you a script of questions, and you go over them one by one trying to make it sound like a conversation between friends. But not with Scott. We were off script within minutes! Partly due to Scotts professionalism. But there is also something about talking to someone who has a similar passion.

Scott and I do share a similar passion – helping get from where they are to where they want to be. Scott and I have both coached hundreds of people back to taking control of their earning power. The result is a greater sense of Freedom in their lives! (More on that later)

Here are some things Scott and I discuss on the show.

• Why resumes are worthless.
• How can individuals who feel trapped by their current jobs find real and meaningful work?
• How to think like and operate like an owner instead of an employee.
• How to develop and strengthen your confidence.
• YOUR brand, and how to take control of it.

Have you ever wondered what sets apart the winners from the losers?

What one key attribute makes the difference?

— Is it education?

— Is it money?

— Are we born with it?

No to the above!

Then some say PASSION. 

Well – I agree with passion – except I have also met passionate people who are driven by a purpose – but never seem to get anywhere. They are all talk and continually try to convince other people to act on their causes. I know of several people who are passionate about causes to serve and yet nothing ever happens.

Why not?

Because nothing ever happens! And they have good excuses as to why.

Action is the key. People who succeed take action. Companies that make it in the market take action.

So take action!

- Seek out a purpose to serve.

- Decide what action to take.

- Take it!!!

No excuses allowed.

– If you do not have the money – get it. If it does not seem to come – find some way to start with nothing! Zappos shoes started with nothing and sold for over $800 million.

– If you do not a have the time – learn now to take control of your time and set your priorities. The busy people seem to make more happen.

– If you do not have the expertise – get it. Either learn it, find a partner, or fake it if you have to.

Point is – take action. Most of us sit on the sidelines waiting for the right moment to act. The moment is now!

Earl Nightingale, the famous television commentator and founder of Nightingale-Conant Company, tells a story about a man looking for a job and saying “I want someone to give me a job.”

His analogy for this mindset is someone who sits in front of the fireplace and asks that it bring forth heat when they haven’t given it any fuel. This is the same way most Americans operate in the job market. We want to get an increased reward WITHOUT increasing our service.

The question is not “Will someone give me a job?” or “How to I go from making $25,000 a year to $50,000 a year?” The question should be “How can I add value?”

Thinking for a change

What is the secret to success at work? Simple. Start asking yourself,

“What am I gifted to do that other people need?”

and

“What services can I offer people that will offer them great value?”

If we would just sit down and think about it—- just think ——we could probably come up with many alternatives to how we can better serve and therefore make a living and a career by providing for others needs while also doing work we love.

The point being :

People are only going to pay for what services are delivered.

So as we look back at “I want to increase salary” or “I want someone to give me more money” we should be asking

“How can I offer more service?”

Do you delegate well?

Or do you instead decide, “I will just do it myself.”

Many of you probably think, “I have no one to delegate to!”

Over the past few years I have delegated MASSIVE amounts of work  -  even work that is typically MINE to do. I have found that delegation gets me better results than if I am just doing the work myself. But —- I had to learn to delegate.

My delegation method

Here are some steps you can use to decide if a task needs delegating:

1) Does it matter? So often work produces more work. We get caught up in activities and we never question if these tasks are even valuable anymore. When tasks start to overwhelm you, the first question is not about delegation – but instead about elimination. If a task can be eliminated – do that instead. So much of what binds us is busy work that does not add to the bottom line.

2) Have the right people. If you have the wrong people on your team – your job is going to be harder. The whole reason to have a team is to reach better results faster. If you do not have the right skills in your current people – get new people! Wait – did you say you did not even HAVE a team? We all think that “team” means we have to have employees- but I beg to differ. People on your team might be employees but they could also be co-workers, your boss (yes you can delegate up), and even vendors or contractors. In case you need inspiration about delegation at all levels of the company – see Tim Ferriss’s book The 4-Hour Workweek.

3) Clearly define the outcomes. What do you want the results of the project to look like? Even if you are delegating to your boss – be clear about what is desired. The key to delegating to non-employees is making sure you have a win-win objective. And remember – MOST projects do not have clearly defined outcomes. Even those large corporate million dollar projects often lack defined outcomes. Yes – MOST PROJECTS. Think about the one you are working on now…. do you know what the desired outcome is?

4) Decide on the WHO should do the task. This is not as tricky as it might sound – and in my case it is usually obvious.

5) Teach and train where needed. If you need a task done a certain way and that specific skill set is missing then make the connection. Do not assume things will be done your way unless you have provided the proper resources – and this MIGHT include training. This step is particularly crucial when you are delegating tasks you normally consider routine. Even if you are handing a task off to a professional like CPAs – make sure you and they talk about what you expect.

6) Set time for follow-up. If it matters to you – follow up. If it does not matter – see step 1. Perhaps it is better to delegate the “following-up” step – but until you know you have a trusted team member – the follow up falls on you.

I know we all think about delegation as a management job – but it is ALL our jobs. Most of us are paid for results – and if we can get the results done better and faster – we are more valuable. Remember that the goal is not about working more hours – but about working more resources.

I received this email from someone just the other day….

I recently graduated from …. MBA program and have not really found it to be providing any of the opportunities that  I had hoped for, even given the current economic and employment conditions. I have a desire to change careers and would like to ….., but unfortunately, I have no technical training or experience. I am currently …………. I have been doing this for 10 years, and I have hit the wall. I have to do something else, but I am having a very hard time finding what that something else is exactly as well as how to get there. I just know there is more out there, and I know I am capable of so much more than what I do or have done up until now, I just have no experience in anything else. Constantly surfing employment boards and firing out resumes is not getting me anywhere. I thought that a MBA would provide these for me, but …..

I have left the details as …. to protect the particular programs they are talking about. Fact is, the details do not matter. I hear this from so many people in so many career paths. It has become the mantra of the current tech community.

A few key points here…

1. An MBA is NOT the answer. Yes, I have one – and it was not the answer for me either!

2. Firing off resumes is not the answer!

What works?

1. Change your thinking! The education system most of us were programmed by (yes – I said programmed) is broken! You need to think differently. You have to think like an entrepreneur – even if you want a job! See a reading list you should add to your library.

2. Networking. But not the same old hat networking you have been told about. For most technical people that type of blind networking strikes fear into their hearts. Remember walking into a crowded room and seeing tons of unknown faces. You search for a face you know, but your hands get sweaty and your heart starts to race. You look to the door and think about running. Guess what – this does not work – for the obvious reasons. Instead do something that DOES work.

Try Networking for Introverts! Click Below to Read Parts 1 and 2 of this process (and there are few videos in there too!)

Part 1

Part 2

When you have just graduated high school, the world is before you. You have all of your dreams and aspirations ready to go. You look at your parents and say things like “I want to major in acting. I want to be an actress” or “I want to go into photography” or maybe “I want to major in a foreign language”.More than likely your parents stare blankly back at you with doubtful looks.

But you didn’t care back then. You had no fear about stating these things then, because they were purely, simply, exactly, what you wanted to do with your life.

Then you graduate with those degrees and feel dismayed because all of the “now hiring” signs are not looking for a photographer, an actress, or a specialist in foreign language. So what happens?

These same people go on to get jobs waiting tables, being a sales clerk, or punching cards behind the desk of some government job, because those places were “hiring”. The job made money, the money paid the rent, and that was the main priority.

Thus, we have an entire society of people who “have to have a degree” but they almost never work in their degree field.

What’s wrong with this picture? Well aside from the discussions we could have about businesses who require you to have a degree, then don’t care what your degree is in, mainly we need to talk about why people don’t choose the things they want AFTER college the way they did before.

Ignorance? Fear? Practicality? Responsibility?

There is nothing irresponsible about pursuing the career you want instead of just pursuing anything that pays money. In fact, pursuing money above all else, is the exact kind of mentality that leads to criminals. Set your priorities towards what really matters. You may need a job to pay the rent, but you aren’t doing your family any favors if you come home every day miserable because you just spent 10-12 hours doing something you hate.

If you got that degree in acting, see if you can’t make a career of that. You don’t have to be a starving artists. Keep the day job, but be looking for ways to create yourself a career that is fun for you AND makes the money you need for your family.

Looking to be a photographer? Who says you can’t open up a website where you sell your photographs? That doesn’t take anything away from what you’re doing now, but it allows you to be doing something you love. and who knows? As that website grows, maybe you can reach a point where that is your main career. Really, it is possible. IF you work at it.

The point is, as you look at your career, stay in what you’re doing if it is what you WANT to be doing. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to pursue change (responsibly)