So the decisions been made. It’s been an idea brewing up in the back of your head for quite some time and now you’re ready to take the plunge. You of course have thought about this, ran the numbers, calculated everything to a tee…–well, you have yourself making a million by year two but hey if everything goes right why not?? You spoke with some buddies and even a select customer or two who all say– “you’re so great at killing bugs, you should open up your own business- it’s a slam dunk.” You’ve run the idea past your wife a hundred times and she’s, well, uh, coming round–yea yea she’s on board.
Yep it’s time. Time to strike out on your own and begin making that huge profit for yourself that YOU’VE been providing for that owner for all these years. Time to reap those great rewards for those endless hours of training, hours on the phone saving accounts that don’t belong to you, the hundreds of times of crawling in the ickiest sub spaces and hottest attics, getting bitc**ed at for unrealistic expectations, the exposure to the nastiest sanitation situations etc. etc. etc… The overtime, early mornings & late days only to be stood up, lunch on the road, secretaries scheduling you in two places at one time, hustling through accounts just to get to a meeting on time where you know all you’ll hear is how you and the rest of the crew need to step it up…”Gotta hit your numbers.” Of course the boss says this with his thick gold wrist watch rapping against the table as he makes countless gestures explaining his need for more effort all the while he’s looking out the window admiring his new boat he stores in the yard next to his black company Escalade. (I know, I know, I said “etc.etc.etc.” but I couldn’t stop–sorry)
At your meeting you’re only half listening as you stare at those figures on the board. If you could just keep ONE HALF of your route you could live a nice comfortable life. If those numbers were on YOUR board–wow, how great would that be?!! You’ve lost count of how often you’ve gone above and beyond– Yea, it’s past time you stepped out. You’re overdue. This is your moment-your do or die!!!!!
That Friday you slide your resignation envelope across the bosses desk. The owner, somewhat disbelieving doesn’t even open it but just slips it the rest of the way across the fine cherry wood desk top and drops it into his desk drawer. He reaches his hand out to shake- he looks as if he wants to say so much. You brace for objections or even a counter offer but none comes. – He pauses as if he wants to say something, Alas, all he can do is clear his throat and say, “Good luck, we’re gonna miss you.” And there you have it, you’re free—you’re on you’re own & I just have one thing to say to you.
ARE YOU CRAZY??????
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