Len Sandler

Mind Your Own Business Len Sandler

There was a day long ago when organizations "took care" of people. They would stand by them in good times and bad, offering secure jobs, periodic cost of living raises, and generous pension plans. Employees were awarded trinkets for five, ten, and 25 years of loyal service and would be proudly wear them the way soldiers carried medals of bravery on their chests. Wily corporate veterans would share wisdom such as, "As long as you show up when you're supposed to, don't cause trouble, and do what you're told, you'll do all right here. You've got a home." Those days are gone. Today's worker will hold an average of 12 jobs. That's a life expectancy of a little over 3.5 years per job. Each are temporary stopping points, mere springboards to the next job. In turn, most organizations regard employees as resources to be used like buildings, equipment, and petty cash. It's common practice to lay off large groups of employees in one location while simultaneously hiring large groups in another location. They'll buy and sell divisions of a corporation with little regard for the impact on people's lives. Employees often seem treated with as much care and compassion as Monopoly pieces like the anvil, top hat, and shoe. Rather than responding with resentment, the healthiest way to deal with today's reality is to act like you're really working for yourself, despite the fact that you work inside an organization. Like a free agent. Like an "intrapreneur." You have to decide when to change jobs, companies, and careers. It's in your hands, not anyone else's. Whether the change from company-reliance to self-reliance is good or bad is open to debate. What's important is realizing that unless you mind your own business, no one else will!