Something didn’t feel right when I watched the news about the potential 2,000,000 people that would be out of work should the Big 3 go away. My family is all from Detroit and although not in the industry, certainly affected by everything automotive.
But I try to look at things through different glasses–and sometimes it gets me in trouble. As a sales trainer, I get asked about skills a lot. And so this post is about sales skills and free markets. Quite a combination, isn’t it?
But here is my thesis, unproven as it is:
While most people look at the unemployment rate as an indicator for the health of the economy, I look at it as an indicator of SKILL-JOB Congruence.
SKILLED Congruence is a phenomena of ‘population skills to job requirements.’ In our leadership unit, (The Leadership Institute of Indianapolis) we spend a lot of time with sales teams making sure that the SKILLS required for the job match the SKILLS of the individual. When they do, things work better.
So Why Isn’t it the Same Thing in a Capitalist Society?
We each are CEO’s of us (although I’ve always sneered at that phrase, it actually fits here). You have choices in life in a free society/market.
You choose where to live, based on your means. You choose what career to pursue based on your interest and ability. You chose your friends. You choose whether you want to go into massive debt or not.
In a free market, where you are CEO of YOU INC, you also choose what skills to work on. If you chose the skills required for an assembly line in the auto business, you did fine for a while.
Markets Change. That’s Why They Call Them “Free.”
But the market changed (it does ALL the time). So now, those skills you were selling to your employer are no longer demanded by that employer.
So, why claim victim? You can cry ‘foul’ for years, but that won’t change the fact that the market has changed. And you can change with it.
What Does This Mean to the Average Auto Worker? Or to You?
It means everything.
Virtually every client I’m working with right now is hiring — if they found the right person. EVERY CLIENT. Granted – these people aren’t in the automotive but it means they have demand that needs to be filled. But they find few people who are skilled in their area.
So, rather than whine that the government (or anyone) won’t bail you out, look at your skills and take an assessment of them. Be man enough to admit when your skills are outdated, antiquated, or out of demand. Remember, the market doesn’t pay for what you want it to pay you for. The market pays for what’s in demand.
It’s Your Life. Use It.
Go back to school–or to a trade college –or to the internet. Look at purchasing a small business op or a new skill.
And don’t think your any different than the automotive business is different. What if your skill was no longer needed? What would you do?
The Market Wants New Ideas. Can You Supply Those?
- The Market wants people good at selling/marketing things? Can you do that?
- The Market wants people who know how to get things done? Are you one of those?
- The Market wants to pay for performance–not pay for hours worked. Do you have the guts to do that?
- The Market wants internet skills. Have you stopped to learn them?
The Market does not need automotive assembly line workers. The Market does not need new auto dealerships. The Market might not need more realtors right now–regardless of how much you love homes.
TIP: Go where the market is.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Ok…Bill…step away from the Red Bull….
I feel your “passion” – and I agree.
I too, am from the Detroit area – grew up in Westland went to Oakland University. I lived and worked in the high-tech industry all over the eastern side of the state; I have had many lunches at the eatery Jimmy Hoffa was last seen. – Remember the “dark days” of the Seventies when Lee went to Washington?
The Times, they are different…
But the whining, the “entitlements” and the blame has festered, grown and spread – there are far, far fewer “You, Inc.” people today.
I have often said, “I don’t participate in recessions.” I don’t.
One shouldn’t respond out of fear, but most do – and it isn’t the sheep responding that are as bad as those who use this to manipulate the scared into believing they can do nothing without “a little help from my friends…” i.e., “the government”.
I could go on and that is one of the reasons I have a blog –
One parting observation – I wonder how long it will be until uttering the words, “…You choose where to live, based on your means. You choose what career to pursue based on your interest and ability. You chose your friends. You choose whether you want to go into massive debt or not…” is spun out of elitism and into treason…
Great Post!
Great post indeed. I think that all too often people forget that this is America and that businesses are supposed to fail from time to time.