Home » Why Employees Are Becoming Extinct, And What You Can Do To Preserve Your Species

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A very good friend of mine is an entreprenuer and one of the most famous female drag racers of all time. She is growing an empire, and to do that you need employees, and LOTS of them.

 

I am an entreprenuer myself, except that I am in the real estate business. I buy, sell, fix and flip houses or rent them out full time.

 

One day I was talking with my friend, and we occassionally talk about interviewing employees, hiring and sometimes, having to fire them. This article has the potential to offend A LOT of people out there who are employees. But if you heed the message, your chances of staying employed by the entreprenuer you work for in this economy will increase DRAMATICALLY.

 

Entreprenuers find most employees extremely ANNOYING, with the exception of  select few. Of course, we would never tell you that, because there is a chance you might sue us for offending you. So we say things like, "Thank you for your time." And "We will give you a call." Even though we INSTANTLY know, right then and there, if we are going to hire you or not.

 

One thing about being an entreprenuer is that we are SUPER about making quick, lightning fast decisions. It is very rare that we have to think very long or hard about anything, because we already know EXACTLY what we want in an employee. Because when you are an entreprenuer, time is money. So, we have to know exactly what it is that we want and what we are looking for as quickly as possible to make the most efficient use of our resources.

 

Here are a list of annoying things employees say during an interview:

 

1. How much do you pay?

2. Do I get any benefits?

3. How much paid time do I get off?

4. What is the opportunity for advancement?

5. Or any question that has to do with, "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME???"

 

The reason these questions annoy us so much as entreprenuers is that we realize the value of time and money just as much as the next person. In fact, I would go as far as to say that while everyone else goes to college so they can do what they love to do without money being a concern or influence on their decision - entreprenuers go into opening a business with the sole purpose of making as much money as possible, because money is EXTREMELY important to them.

 

In other words, we don't expect something for nothing. We know we have to compensate you for your time, energy and resources. But you are asking us to give you a job, and all you want to talk about is your wants and needs instead of how you can contribute to the company that is going to pay you in the first place. Because if we hire people who do a poor job, there won't be a company around to pay salaries. The company will go bankrupt, and the cash cow will be gone. So, spend your time in the interview asking questions ABOUT what the company does, and how you can contribute.

 

If you ignore everything else in this article except this one thing I am about to share with you, then do so. If you want to make the entreprenuer you are asking a job from perk up in their chair and sit at the edge of their seat as they are talking to you, here is what you must realize. Please write this down on a post it note and stick it on your mirror as an employee:

 

Every entreprenuer wants to sell as many products or services as possible.

 

If you are applying for a job at a business, I don't care WHAT kind of business it is, the entreprenuer there is selling a product or service.

 

I honestly don't care about your past employment history, your lack of a high school diploma, and I think I care even less if you have a college education. What I want to know as I interview you how you can help me sell as much product or service as possible as my employee.

 

Now, I know what you are saying... I can't sell anything, and I'm not applying for a sales job. And that is because you think I am talking about talking people into buying things they don't want to buy. But that is not the case at all.

 

If I have a product or service as an entreprenuer, one thing that would impress me VERY much about a potential employee is to know how many people they know who could use my product or service. If I buy and sell houses for a living, have you lived in the city all of your life? Do you have over 1,000 friends on your MySpace or Facebook page that you would be willing to say, "Hey, I got a job over at XYZ Company, and they buy houses that need work. Do you guys have any houses my boss might be able to buy?"

 

Or better yet (And I've never even seen this) if you came into an interview with a LEAD. Like if you were applying for a job as a receptionist to work at a plumbing company, if you came in with a lead of somebody who needs some plumbing work that you know - now THAT is impressive. Because you are already helping me make money before I hire you!

 

So, if you are applying for different jobs out there during this economy, ask yourself first and foremost:

 

What product or service is the entrpreneuer I am working for selling? And how can I help them get one lead before my interview?

 

If you don't know anyone who wants what they are selling, check Craigslist under the "wanted" section, and people tell you things they want all the time! Print off as many names and phone numbers off that list as possible that are relevant to what your bosses company does, and show that you are at least TRYING to contribute something to the company.

 

This one act alone will set you above ANYONE your boss will interview. They will be so shocked and amazed by what you have to offer, they are likely to ask, "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO PAY YOU?" And then YOU call the shots.

 

It is worth repeating:

 

What product or service is the entreprenuer I am working for selling? And how can I help them get one lead before my interview?

 

Also, another important thing that impresses us entreprenuers is how many other entreprenuers you know.

 

For instance, I am a real estate investor and you might know a business owner who owns a printing company. I always need contracts printed off, and the printing company you know needs the business. So, if you can help me get a discount on services I already use just because you know somebody - that impresses me more than a 10 year degree. Also, the printing company you know will appreciate the referral. So, if they ever need to hire somebody - you can refer your friends to them who need a job, and they will be more likely to listen to you, because you are trying to help their business succeed.

 

We don't care about things most employees think are important. We don't care that you know when the Civil War was fought, that your IQ is higher than anybody else's in the state, or what your educational credentials are. Some jobs do require a degree, but I guarantee I could walk into ANY office in America and create a job for myself that doesn't even exist.

 

I can go into a doctor, lawyer or dentist office and convince them to hire me by giving me a job they didn't even know they needed. But the job would require bringing more customers to their business, and increasing their bottom line.

 

Even if you are applying for a job as a receptionist, stocker, bookeeper, administrative assistant, manager, waitress, cook, etc. You can still blow your competition out of the water by coming to the interview with a good network behind you, and convince the business owner you know people who want their products or services, and that you can help them achieve their goals.

 

When entreprenuers hear you say that, they absolutely adore you. You become the office pet, and we can't function without you. I can't tell you how many times I have quit my job, only for my boss to call me back and say, "I will pay you $5 dollars more per hour! PLEASE COME BACK!"

 

But as an employee I was rare, because I knew why my boss was in business and I knew how to get him what he needed and wanted. Most employees don't care what the business owner needs or wants, because they are too busy concerning themselves with what's in it for them.

 

Even a small way to show your boss how you can help them sell their products and services, EVEN if you are just there to hammer a nail in the wall and sweep the floors - it will put you ahead of anybody else who is just there for a job.

 

Show an interest in helping your boss succeed. I've heard that said a lot to people interviewing for a job, but most people have no idea what success means to their bosses. What success means to us is MAKING LOTS OF SALES. We want to sell as many of our products and services as possible, regardless if we are real estate investors, plumbers, electricians, insurance people, restaurant owners, night club owners, web development companies, phone companies, attorneys, doctors, dentists - you name it! If you are employed, your boss is selling SOMETHING. Find out what it is, and how you can help them while they pay you a salary.