|
|
|
Don't forget who you are really working for By MARY JANE HOLT A number of years ago, probably more than a decade now, I wrote a column about people who have a mind to work. I almost looked up that column last night after I watched the Enron movie on CBS, but it was late, and I didn't want to further disturb the sleep I was looking forward to at the end of a long and busy weekend. I was already disturbed, to say the least, by the film. I have been disturbed over the past couple of years, in fact, by the goings on inside the big and little Enrons of America. It is not easy to watch what has happened (is continuing to happen?) to big business in our land. Or is it little business as well? I fear I do not like to use the term "I fear" but it is appropriate here I fear that America has forgotten what it's all about. Now, mind you, America means you and me. So don't go throwing stones as you read this. You will want to, but we need to clean up our own minds and souls before we go casting blame on somebody else. First off, I am convinced that most of us have forgotten who pays our salaries. Oh, we may know who signs the check and who considers himself CEO, CFO, COO or Chairman of the Board. And we may know who ultimately decides just how much money we are paid. But those people are insignificant really. In the end, and the beginning, they have little or nothing to do with who you and I work for. We forget that person/s, don't we? We are so wrapped up in self, and what we are worth, and what we deserve, that we forget who really buys our bread AND butters it. We even fantasize from time to time about lottery winnings or some other easy way to come by money. It's almost always all about us, isn't it? The truth is very few of us and I do mean VERY FEW are going to get something for nothing in this world. Yes, there are a handful of lottery winners each week. And there are more than a handful of well dressed business men and women who think they are putting something over on the little men and women who they think work for them, or for the companies they run. But there is more truth that needs to be considered there. I'm a firm believer that things done or said in secret eventually come out into the open. That which we make happen behind close doors always unfolds itself beyond those doors. No darkness lasts forever, light wins in the end. Revealing light. I have no doubt that there are sharp business men and women at, or near, the top of many a business or industry who thinks he or she can slip in and do their thing to make the company look good, then skim their take off the top, and be gone long before that ever revealing light exposes the questionable shenanigans for which they are responsible. Yep, just like in the Enron movie, book, and real life! Businessmen are guilty. As are politicians. As are you and I. We are all guilty every time we forget who we are working for. Every time we fail to do our best, to work hard, to earn every dollar we pocket. And who are we working for? That's easy. That would be the man or woman who buys our product or service. It is just that simple. The day we forget that one fact we all get caught up in the merry go round that keeps companies like Enron growing and evolving and cheating the consumer for a time. Worse than that we are cheating ourselves. Anytime we give less than our best, we lose. To succeed in life, really succeed, we must be willing to serve and know who we serve. If it's not God first and then our fellowman, we are in trouble from the get go. If it's the almighty dollar and all it will buy, we may not only be in trouble in this present life, but in the life to come, as well. Thank you so much for reading my column each week. Any response you might want to send my way should be addressed to MJHcolumn@aol.com. May God bless you and yours in this wonderful new year and help you to thankfully and prayerfully take advantage of the awesome opportunities that will surely come your way.
|
||