For those of us who work for someone else and do not believe they are Self Employed:
We are self employed contractors but we only have one customer.
We did not agree that we would be their contractor for life and they did not agree to be our customer for life.
We made an agreement with that customer that we would generate certain outputs in return for a certain amount of money.
We also agreed to a certain schedule of benefits like vacation days, sick days, and health insurance.
We did not agree that the amount of money would change automatically or that we would still get the money if we are not here.
Our name is not on the sign and it wasn’t our money that put it there. Don’t walk around with a sense that you are entitled to something like someone on Food Stamps or Welfare. If you complain about people who take welfare and don’t work and then complain about your boss not giving you a raise when you don’t work, what makes you any different?
If you wish to change the initial agreement, you have two choices:
1. Provide more output. Either your current customer will notice and increase the payment for the output or another customer will notice and ask you to become their contractor. If you can honestly say that you are going above and beyond the call, then finding another customer will be very easy.
2. Go find another customer without increasing your output. This is the least desirable option for the following reasons:
a. Eventually, the new customer will discover the same value in your output as the prior customer
b. Any business owner will tell you, it is easier to keep a current customer than to get a new one.
c. It is possible that the new customer heard about you from the old customer and will actually pay you less. The longer you have been with your current customer the more likely this is.
d. A negative attitude will show itself quickly with any customer.
e. You accepted the current agreement. Why is it no longer valid? Did you start providing more services?
f. Are you in violation of the agreement you made?
i. Do you show up on time?
ii. Do you leave early?
iii. Do you steal from your boss? Most people will say no, but do you play games on your phone? Do you waste time with your coworkers? Your contract calls for your undivided attention.
Think back to Sunday school and how Jesus fed the five thousand (Whether you believe in God or not, that is beside the point ). What was the first thing He asked his disciples to do? He asked them to put in what they had: the 2 fish and the five loaves. He didn’t just “fix it”, He didn’t just waive his hands and create a buffet. He asked them to do what they could first and then He finished it.
That is how most bosses are. They don’t just give you a raise because it has been a year. Sometimes they do, but you shouldn’t expect it based on that. Most bosses, at least the good ones I have had, wait to see what you can do. Then, in order to ensure that you do not go find another customer, express their appreciation by modifying the agreement and providing you with more money!
Learn everything there is to know about your job. Ask the older employees how they do tasks. Have a positive attitude and save your venting and complaining for someone you trust away from work like your wife or close friend. Don’t hang around with people that are negative about your customer. They should go find another customer if they are unhappy and they will only drag you down. I have a cousin who was laid off from Humana. He cannot find another job and it is his own fault. He worked at a job for 5 years with free college tuition and he never took advantage of it.
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