Employers VS Employees

EMPLOYERS VS EMPLOYEES

Have you ever wondered why some people own businesses and others just work for those businesses?  What separates people?   What makes the difference?

For our purposes today, let us just classify all those who work for someone as EMPLOYEES.  May we, also, take the liberty to classify all those who own a business as EMPLOYERS.

What kind of an individual is an EMPLOYER?  I strongly believe they are the kind of people who see an opportunity, possess the commitment, and have the guts to go for it.  That opportunity may have some obstacles, but the employer sees through them.  He knows there will be challenges and even welcomes them.  Why?  Because, in the end, it reduces his competition as others won’t be so bold and entrepreneurial to tackle those problems.  Thus, an employer is one who sees an opportunity, and through his own hard work and the work of his employees, constructs the foundation of a thriving business.  Over time, as he becomes more comfortable with employees assuming more of the daily operations, the employer is able to slowly step away from the business, thereby creating a valuable asset that is working for him.  He envisioned the end results from the beginning and worked toward establishing that business.  Minor challenges were smoothed over, the business opened, and soon the employees provided him with a nice and comfortable living.

What kind of an individual is the EMPLOYEE?  He is one who would love to be an employer, but sees too many problems in his way.  He just wasn’t lucky enough to have found that perfect business like his employer.  He discusses matters of the company with other employees, and usually they discuss how they could drastically improve the bottom line.  They see all kinds of things wrong with the company and wonder why changes aren’t made.  Meanwhile, they continue to punch their timecard, the employer continues to make money off their efforts, and they wonder why the stars have never been perfectly aligned for them to realize their dream; never imaging that the stars have never been perfectly aligned for anyone, including their employer.

 Employees vs. employers are much like dreamers vs. doers.  Business owners see beyond the barriers of entry into business.  Those same barriers block the employee’s vision keeping him in the labor force.  The employee, however, continues to see himself as an employer.  He just never had the commitment, vision, or the guts to make it happen!

By Brian Melaney

Business owner &

Mayor of West Haven, Utah