What WAS I thinking?

In the middle of a torrential downpour, I leaned against the rear of the old Scenicruiser… crying. I was 23 and thought myself a “manly man”… but this was too much.

The bus had suffered an electrical seizure near Custer, Montana. 45 passengers were waiting for their clueless driver (me) to “do something”. It was 9:50 pm, and the only pay phone nearby was located in a restaurant that closed at 10… if telephonic advice on how to fix the coach didn’t come before then… it would be a long night.

It rang, and my electrical whiz buddy, Oakie, told me to jam the “810 relay” with a matchbook, and the bus would charge. Don’t try this at home folks… but in this case it got us going.

Driving a coach full of people clear across the country, in a tired bus, with resources a thousand miles away… seems like a ton of risk and responsibility for a 23 year old.

What was I thinking? (Very little… I was 23).

In hindsight, it changed my understanding of risk and responsibility, and instilled a huge respect for the courage of people who accept them.

That would be… you… the people who start and manage businesses.

Several politicians have intimated that you “didn’t do it alone”… that roads, protection offered by police and fire departments, and other infrastructure were key to your success

Horse pucky.

All those things matter, but you’re the one who to used them to build something. We all drive on the same highways, you’re the one who manages to use them to move people and create jobs.

In case you missed it, you are at risk. When a business fails, employees lose their source of income, but are paid for everything they’ve done. Owners can lose literally everything.

When the poopie hits the fan, you’re the one who gets the call, day or night. You’re the one who misses holidays and family gatherings, without getting paid “overtime”.

Please understand, I admire and respect good employees. Many try to do more than they’re paid for, and take a genuine interest in their company.

They’ve made a choice. Either they’re unwilling to accept the stress that comes with running their own business, or they’ve decided that other interests are more important to them.

We’ve all heard about actors who “wait tables” to support themselves, so they can pursue their dream. As long as they give their best at the “day job”… they’re good people.

Some folks want to devote extra hours to their family; others have time consuming hobbies, some want to be Olympic athletes. There are many admirable pursuits that benefit us all… that preclude running a business.

We make choices and must live with the results. When that choice involves working for someone else, it’s not fair to expect the same benefits that the company’s owner gets.

Choosing to be a “starving artist” sometimes means… starving.

The people who own and operate businesses frequently make significant sacrifices in their private lives to keep things going. Sometimes they reap huge rewards, and sometimes they lose everything.

A problem arises when folks try to have it both ways. It’s wrong for a company to ignore the contributions of employees. Workers deserve to be rewarded for all they do. It’s just as wrong for employees to assume that management somehow has it easy, and is getting more than their fair share.

If you want a larger share, start a business, and make the sacrifices and take the risks that entrepreneurs must make. The only job that is “yours” is one you create.

Class warfare is ugly, and no one wins. If the entrepreneurs who start and run businesses are suppressed too much, they quit, and we all lose the jobs and creativity they offer.

My career in the coach industry spanned 55 years, and I was someone’s employee during that whole time. Most of the folks I worked for were terrific, and made huge contributions to my life.

Thanks… hopefully you know who you are.

A few were jerks… hopefully YOU know who YOU are.

I did my best for all of them, and because I tried to be a good employee, if a job turned out to be destructive… I moved on.

Business owners don’t have the luxury of moving on. For them it is sink or swim. Some sink.

I admire everyone who tries to run a company, for letting it all hang out, and am grateful for the opportunities employers gave me.

This is a clumsy way of expressing how much I respect those who run businesses, and those who work diligently for them… and all who understand how it fits together.