Spoiled Brats
Why do you think entitlement ruins our economy and do you think personal responsibility ends the spiral of this madness?
What do you think? Where do you stand? If you post a comment on the blog I will send you a download of The CEO of YOU: Leading YOURSELF to Success by Marsha Petrie Sue.
If you are really serious about taking control of your job and making more money, you have to take 100% responsibility for everything. The first step in turning yourself and your job into the perfect situation is to dump any thinking about what others “owe” you. “Why do my employees have such an entitlement mentality?” is a question often asked in business today? And I’ve learned it is not just the Generation Y’s who create this image. The Baby Boomers and Gen Xer’s are as much at fault as any other workforce participant.
I think many people have become spoiled brats. Some blame it on generational differences, others say it’s society gone soft and still others claim there is a disappearance of the work ethic. It is a combination of all of these.
And companies and employers can blame themselves:
• They have not set clear connections between job performance and compensation.
• All employees are rewarded the same.
• Automatic raises are given because of tenure.
• Companies have poor or inconsistent communication.
• Come-and-go-as-you-please work schedules are acceptable.
• Dress codes are not enforced.
• Annual raises of 10 percent to 20 percent of base salary are automatic.
• Regular grant of stock options are expected.
• Full coverage health insurance costs are part of the entitlement.
• Employer-subsidized soft drinks, bagels, coffee and more are expected.
I was speaking to Mortgage Brokers and Loan Officers on Monday. The president of the company agreed with an analogy I had been told by another company leader. The group was whining and certainly displaying difficult behavior when he chimed back with this:
• So, when your numbers are terrific it is because you are such a fabulous sales person and so good at your job?
• And when the bottom fell out of the Real Estate Market and many of the financial markets, it was the economy’s fault for your numbers tanking?
• Then why did 20% of the team continue to make their numbers and succeed?
My belief is that a certain percentage of people have learned to be resilient in their jobs and make the decision not to be spoiled brats. The toxic behavior of a whine and cheeser (see Toxic People) is easy and is reserved for the lazy that don’t take the time to figure out what does work and what they should leave behind.
What is your perspective? Do you fall into the Spoiled Brat frame or have you figured out how to pull yourself up and move forward no matter what?
Remember Vilfredo Pareto and the 80/20 rule? I also think this is why 20% of the investors today are investing in the financial markets and 80% are whining because they overextended themselves and often times because of their greed!
What do you think? Where do you stand? If you post a comment on the blog I will send you a download of The CEO of YOU: Leading YOURSELF to Success.
