I am a strong believer that Entrepreneurship is the answer to many of our economic woes. Too many of us grow up with the notion of “If I can only find a good job.” Why not change the mindset to “What can I do for myself?” Why not create your own job / business?
On the other hand business owners often tell me about the problems they have with labourers. “They do not want to work hard and you cannot trust them.” This is nothing new, since business owners have always complained about this, but present day labour laws make it even more difficult for the entrepreneur.
However, I believe there is a deeper root cause to this problem. We read about it in the Bible in Joh 10:12 – 13. ”But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.”
The difference between the business owner and the employee is similar. If you are the owner, you are the one who most probably risked your livelihood to start the business. Changing jobs is not an option and because you purchased whatever is in the business with money that you worked for, you take special care.
But an employee goes to work today and the next day to receive a salary at the end of the month. So if you are not an owner and you have not sacrificed what the owner has, then you are likely to not have the same level of care for the business. If you become a shareholder without working or paying for it, you will most probably demand certain benefits without necessarily being willing to sacrifice what is needed.
I believe there is a way though that can make an employee’s approach to a business similar to that of the owners. This can happen when they serve the higher purpose of God and not only their employer. We find the solution in Col 3:22 – 24 ”Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Businesses usually hire for competence and often fire for character. Therefore, hire for character instead. Tom Peters in one of his books says “Appoint for attitude and train for whatever.”
