Welcome To The Kimber Resources HUB On AGORACOM
Creating value through Exploration and Development in the Sierra Madre of Mexico
Message: Open Letter To ALL My Employees ...
I read this at another hub thought it was worth a read
To All My Valued Employees,
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. What does
threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.
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 white Cadillac outside. You've seen
my nice home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure; all these supposedly flashy
icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.
However, what you don't see is my BACK STORY:
I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300
square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment 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 Ramon Pride Noodles because every dollar I saved went
back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective
transmission. I didn't have time to 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 the Nordstrom for the latest hot fashion item, I was
trolling through the discount 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 9am, mentally check in at
about noon, and then leave at 5pm, 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 the 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
my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. 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 didn't.
The people who overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the
same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed more than 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 eclipse the threshold of 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 mandates and
regulations and all the accounting 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? 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 real economic stimulus of
this country.
The fact is, if I deducted (Read: 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 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 suddenly, the government
mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of
depositing that $288,000 into the Washington "black-hole", I would have
spent it, hired more employees, and generated 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 it 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?
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 the poor of America are
the essential drivers of the American economic engine.
Nothing could be further from the truth; 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'll fire you. I'll 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.
So, 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,
steam-rolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape
forever.
If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no
employees to worry about....
Signed, Abe
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