Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Let the actions begin ...
.
.
.
(Please fasten your seat belts - It may be a bumpy ride.)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
A Letter From The Boss
To All My Valued Employees,
I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.
My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.
So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.
Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed decades of my life for.
Yes, business ownership has its benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.
Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:
I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.
The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 23 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.
The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.
Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.
When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.
So where am I going with all this?
It's quite simple.
If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.
Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.
So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....
Signed, THE BOSS
I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.
My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.
So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.
Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed decades of my life for.
Yes, business ownership has its benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.
Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:
I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.
The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 23 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.
The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.
Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.
When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.
So where am I going with all this?
It's quite simple.
If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.
Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.
So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....
Signed, THE BOSS
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Here ... Take This Fifteen Billion Dollars of Our Money and Enjoy The Holiday's
What's up with the current administration pushing to give the auto industry $15-Billion, with (although stated differently) almost no strings attached?
For openers, GM currently owes about $60-Billion to creditors. Next, GM has stated they are "burning through" about $2-Billion per WEEK! Although adamantly denied by the UAW (United Auto Workers union) many line workers reportedly are "earning" in the $50/hour range.
What will the $15-Billion gift to GM buy them? Not much, except the ability to pay workers through Christmas and maybe even until Obama takes office.
Does this make ANY sense? If you are the outgoing President, it does: Bush might be able to say that he did what GM asked for and GM did not go down the tubes during his watch. (But it most likely will during the Obama/Democrat watch, unless a massive influx of OUR DOLLARS bails out all the unimaginative, conniving management and unionized overpaid workers!)
I see the "logic" as this: We handed $350-Billion to the banks and they simply gobbled it up with little accountability. So, $15-Billion to the auto industry is simply "Chump Change" and will give the administration a Gold Star (Well, maybe a Silver Star) for "Doing The Right Thing."
Make sense?
For openers, GM currently owes about $60-Billion to creditors. Next, GM has stated they are "burning through" about $2-Billion per WEEK! Although adamantly denied by the UAW (United Auto Workers union) many line workers reportedly are "earning" in the $50/hour range.
What will the $15-Billion gift to GM buy them? Not much, except the ability to pay workers through Christmas and maybe even until Obama takes office.
Does this make ANY sense? If you are the outgoing President, it does: Bush might be able to say that he did what GM asked for and GM did not go down the tubes during his watch. (But it most likely will during the Obama/Democrat watch, unless a massive influx of OUR DOLLARS bails out all the unimaginative, conniving management and unionized overpaid workers!)
I see the "logic" as this: We handed $350-Billion to the banks and they simply gobbled it up with little accountability. So, $15-Billion to the auto industry is simply "Chump Change" and will give the administration a Gold Star (Well, maybe a Silver Star) for "Doing The Right Thing."
Make sense?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Speak Up For A FINE AMERICAN
Check it out: (CLICK link below)
~~~~~~~
~~~~~~
CONGRATULATIONS, PATRICK!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
"Obama Said This ... Obama Said That ..."
It's time - actually well past time - to drop all the tiring "Obama said this ... Obama said that ... " rhetoric and useless emails.
It's no surprise to me that I'm still getting many emails pointing out real and phony, truthful and untruthful statements and actions concerning Barack Obama: That's all history now and has no useful purpose in resurrecting a broken government.
Now is the time to support our new President-elect. It's going to be a near super-human task for Obama to run this government, never mind all the usual and customary over-the-top promises he (and the other candidate) made. A right thinking individual, hopefully, never voted on the "pie-in-the-sky" talk. (I wish that were true, but I know far too many never saw through the wool.)
So, save the electrons and just delete all the "new discoveries (fill in the blank) regarding Obama."
Now IS the time to report on what the new President actually does and how those action relate to the betterment of our country. Some folks will agree with those actions ... and some will not. That IS what we should be discussing, not: "What Obama is trying to cover up."
Wish Obama Great Luck ... he's going to need all he can get.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Big Pink Elephant
Looks like there is a "Big Pink Elephant" right in the middle of the current Presidential "Debates and Dialogs" ... and no one wants to see it!
What ever happened to all the talk about illegal immigration, the rush across our southern border and all the associated problems? Has that problem gone away ... I don't think so!
Not a word about it!
Can it be that no candidate wants to "offend" a possible voter ... likely!
So here we have two potential US and world leaders babbling back and forth about nonsense items and promising the silly and impossible. All the while, the masses are streaming into our country, virtually at will.
This morning, I watched one of the few TV shows I like: "CBS News Sunday Morning." There was a very "interesting" segment on health care in the US and other countries. It raved over what a great medical system the French have. It seems in France, any legal French citizen can have care for free ... the government pays all the bills. (Note the word "legal!")
Near the end of the French Connection, it very quickly pointed out the the French system was running an annual deficit of over TEN BILLION US dollars and the "some changes were going to have to be made!" So much for the enviable French medical system.
In pointing out the financial problems with US health care and, in particular, US hospitals, it was NEVER mentioned EVEN ONCE that much of the problem was due to illegal aliens using our health care system for free. One doctor did, however, admit that people with health insurance "probably" were being charged more to offset those that didn't pay.
Great: Income Redistribution at work! (Like ... we need more of this?)
What ever happened to all the talk about illegal immigration, the rush across our southern border and all the associated problems? Has that problem gone away ... I don't think so!
Not a word about it!
Can it be that no candidate wants to "offend" a possible voter ... likely!
So here we have two potential US and world leaders babbling back and forth about nonsense items and promising the silly and impossible. All the while, the masses are streaming into our country, virtually at will.
This morning, I watched one of the few TV shows I like: "CBS News Sunday Morning." There was a very "interesting" segment on health care in the US and other countries. It raved over what a great medical system the French have. It seems in France, any legal French citizen can have care for free ... the government pays all the bills. (Note the word "legal!")
Near the end of the French Connection, it very quickly pointed out the the French system was running an annual deficit of over TEN BILLION US dollars and the "some changes were going to have to be made!" So much for the enviable French medical system.
In pointing out the financial problems with US health care and, in particular, US hospitals, it was NEVER mentioned EVEN ONCE that much of the problem was due to illegal aliens using our health care system for free. One doctor did, however, admit that people with health insurance "probably" were being charged more to offset those that didn't pay.
Great: Income Redistribution at work! (Like ... we need more of this?)
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Maybe Obama Is Right
An Exercise in "Wealth Redistribution."
Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed. Once in the restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference -- just imagine the coincidence.
When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need, like the homeless guy outside.
The server angrily stormed from my sight. I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.
At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient "deserved" money more. I guess distribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.
Idea: Employers could announce the consideration of employee raises, then withhold those raises and give the proceeds to a worthy cause, preferably one involving non-workers ...
I think the jury is still out on Obama's plan. What say you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
