There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of
this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy
has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the
good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. But
please read further.
What does threaten your job is the changing political landscape in
this country. Of course, as your employer, I am forbidden to tell you
whom to vote for - it is against the law to discriminate based on
political affiliation, race, creed, religion, etc.
Please vote for who you think will serve your interests the best.
However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help
you decide what is in your best interest.
First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against
employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is
a back story.
This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see
and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You saw my big
home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure all these flashy icons of
luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life. However, what
you don't see is the back story.
Here it is. I started this company 12 years ago. At that time, I
lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire
living space 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 socialize or 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 Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was
trolling through the Goodwill 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 9 am, mentally check
in at about noon, and then leave at 5 pm, 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 that 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 me like a one-day-old baby.
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 did not.
The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to
the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade 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 outweigh the 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 issued mandates and regulations and all the accounting
paperwork 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? Is it me
- the guy who has provided 14 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 (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 for 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 the government
suddenly mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what?
Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington government
black hole, I would have spent it hiring more employees, and generating
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 that 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 that the business sector is NOT the
essential driver 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 will fire you. I will 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.
While tax cuts to 95% of America sounds great on paper, don't forget
the back story: If there is no job, there is no income to tax. A tax cut
on zero dollars is zero. So, when you make decision to vote, ask
yourself, who understands the economics of business ownership and who
doesn't?
Whose policies will endanger your job? Answer those questions and
you should know who might be the one capable of saving your job. While
the media wants to tell you "It's the economy Stupid" I'm telling you it
isn't.
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 in the South
Caribbean sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry
about.
Signed, Your boss
