Now, Not Tomorrow, Is The Time To Invest In Your Talent (via LinkedIn)

 It's the call every employee dreads hearing.

"We're going to have to let you go." "It doesn't make fiscal sense right now to keep you." "We're sorry."

In today's increasingly challenging financial times, it can be a burden on the employer to juggle keeping and investing in your employees and making the difficult decision to try and keep your doors open. The global pandemic has no doubt taken an economic toll on businesses large and small across America. Millions of hardworking, dedicated, creative and driven employees are being told that the company just can't afford to keep them on the payroll at this time - as businesses tread water trying to stay afloat as the nation navigates these troubled waters.

While these difficult decisions might might make short term fiscal sense - I challenge employers and businesses across America to start to consider the long term ramifications of your hiring and firing decisions. Now is the time to invest in those key employees who will benefit your brand and provide your customers the long term success your company is seeking post global pandemic.

Many employers are waiting patiently on Congress to pass legislation such as the popular PPP program to assist in keeping their businesses above water during these challenging times. But in the current political climate - I believe it's safe to say that Congress is pre-occupied with election fever to actually provide relief for small businesses and employees at this critical juncture.

So, what do you do?

I can tell you, as one of the many millions of skilled, creative, dedicated, and hardworking Americans who find themselves in the unenviable task of finding a new career - now is the time to find a way to hang on to your talented and skilled employees so that when we inevitably come through this incredible shortfall - your business is primed and prepared to take on the rush of a booming economy.

An investment now in those employees is a many-fold blessing for your business. For example, you don't have to train a new acquisition as business returns. How much valuable time are you going to lose trying to play catch up when your competitors are hitting the ground running when the calls and quote requests come in?

Many companies tout their philosophy as family oriented and employee friendly, but do you practice what you preach in your business practices? As an employer will you stand in the gap for those you've already taken the time and resources to invest in? In times like these, it's important to know that your corporate philosophy isn't just a bumper sticker slogan designed to entice potential talent. If what you say is true, talent really is difficult to replace and the current climate is not a reflection of their performance - then now is the time to find creative ways to hang on to those people and not let them get away.

For many American workers, the difficulties of the current climate are real. Millions of hard working Americans who toil for their companies going above and beyond what is asked of them - divesting their nights, weekends, vacations, and peace of mind to make sure the companies they represent show a strong and thriving face - even in these times. As employees, we give our time, our creativity, our patience, and our talents so that the companies we represent can be successful. For many, it's more than just working for a paycheck- it's an investment in a way of life.

Now, not tomorrow when the coffers are replenished, is the opportunity for you as an employer to identify those talented employees- the ones you've invested in thus far - and work with them so that together you can work through these difficult times with patience and creativity. One day, perhaps sooner than later, business will return - life will return to some sense of normalcy - America will re open its doors to commerce as usual, and it's my belief that that investment you make now will pay off extraordinarily in the coming weeks and months.

Unfortunately the alternative for many businesses who fail to act now will suffer long term prosperity and growth in chasing a short term fix - and those irreplaceable employees you so once highly touted will be irreplaceable for someone else. - TMS

2020: I wish every day was Saturday.

 

9/11

 It was a little after 7am when I got up out of bed, had breakfast, and readied myself for work. It was my first job out of college, selling residential pest control in Sarasota, Florida. I had a routine, get up, shower, dress, have a bowl of cereal, then out the door.

The day started out like so many — it was a Tuesday, I’d gone into to work to prep for my day — only one stop today, so it would be light. After about an hour or so in the office, I get in my car to start my day, and turn on Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio. That’s when I hear…

“We’ll get back to that story in a moment but right now we’re following this story about a plane that’s evidently crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings.”

I thought… Wow, a Sesna? How did the pilot missed that? That’s gotta suck.

But then… the ABC News Special Report… a jet airplane had plunged into one tower of the World Trade Center — many casualties expected.

 

I start to call. “Did you hear this?” “Did you hear that?”

President Bush was in Sarasota at the time, so I head down to the airport to see Air Force One.

A stop off at Stark Truss shows visual evidence… a second plane has crashed into the other World Trade Center tower.

The news gets worse.

It’s a hijacked plane.

Cell phones are impossible at this point, as you can’t even get a signal. Dialing out is worthless. I rush home and that’s when I see it… the devastation, the carnage, the catastrophic loss of life… it’s so amazingly tragic, so stunningly awful, so fantastically heartbreaking … people running everywhere, screaming and crying … blood mixed with ash and fire littered the streets of one of the greatest cities on Earth. What was once a towering signal of capitalistic strength — reduced to nothing… in a matter of hours… and the world would change forever.

My life — the way I see things, the way I view things — changed forever that day. I can’t explain it, but there almost isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t relive the moments in my mind at some point… seeing that plume of smoke in the air — hearing the thunderous thuds of human bodies who had given up on any hope of saving — falling and crashing into the earth beneath them.

The confusion… the deadening silence of no planes being allowed to fly…

 

The anger and determination to see the demise of those who had committed these horrible acts… the fury of watching them celebrate in the streets like animals — at the thought of innocent women and children who died that day…

and the pride of a nation that came together, albeit for a brief time — Conservatives and Liberals… Democrats and Republicans… Blacks, Whites, Hispanics… men and women.. young and old … together, in unity.

If for a stitch in time, there wasn’t a label — there wasn’t an ideology or an agenda. We were Americans. And we were hurting. We consoled one another. We tried to understand the calamity. We offered solace, and comfort as best we could. We stood united — bruised and battered, but not defeated.

We were the United States of America, and the date was September 11th, 2001.

Where were you…?