The Business Fixer Blog by Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer®

"That's not my job" are not positive words...so stop saying them

Written by Wes Schaeffer | Aug 05, 2018

Even if you're technically right, you're wrong.

Nowadays someone can and will and probably is doing your job overseas for 90-99% less than you are demanding.

Sure, your boss may not be looking there, yet, but when you say...

THAT'S NOT MY JOB!"

...for the 27th time this month I bet she will start looking for your replacement.

With "the gig economy" and "side hustle" mentality and complete lack of loyalty to any company by workers today, she won't even have to go overseas to find someone quite capable right outside her door willing to work harder, for less money, and a lot less whining.

According to a report by HCareers.com, the eight key traits employers look for include:
  1. Comfortable confidence.
  2. Willingness to listen and learn.
  3. Adaptability.
  4. Flexibility.
  5. Self-reliance.
  6. Teamwork.
  7. Dependability.
  8. Honesty.

Your positive words reveal a positive attitude, which won't enable you to do anything, but it will help you do everything you do better.

It's time for a check-up from the neck up.

Your Success Is Your Fault

I remember reading Jeffrey Gitomer years ago and he said if your company won't buy you the computer you need, buy your own.

I did it and I grew my sales and I grew as a person.

Not necessarily because I had the computer I wanted, but because I took responsibility for my own growth, and that kind of thinking and attitude is contagious both to yourself and to those around you.

Information is bountiful, and access to it is basically free.

Your boss can find crazy good workers on Fiverr that will do anything—AN-Y-THING—for five bucks!

  • Want to mail a "glitter bomb"? $5
  • Want to sing Happy Birthday as Jungle Boy on video? $5
  • Want your logo drawn in street graffiti style? $5
  • Want to be "uncursed" forever? $5
  • Want your logo or tagline placed in Time Square on New Year's? $5 

But I'm Indespensable!

Your potential competitors—the Fortune 500 behemoths and the stay-at-home mom who wants to put her degree to use and make a little extra money for the household—can access the internet from the library for free to find anything they need to beat you if they stick with it long enough.

They can also get on Craigslist or eBay and find physical tools for pennies on the dollar so they can show up and bid on your projects and undercut you by 6.5% and take 100% of your revenue.

Sure, things can be taken too far. Your boss may be lazy or selfish or insecure and can take advantage of you and give you too many jobs that aren't technically your responsibility.

But are you there, yet? Are you even close? And if your boss gives you all those extra jobs is it because he hates you or is it because he depends on you and trusts you?

If it's the former, find another job. If it's the latter, it's job security so ask for a raise

Besides, think how great your resume will look after 6 or 12 or 18 months of "doing everything." Think of this "crappy job" as a residency they put medical students through or on-the-job training to groom you for management. 

Your attitude is the difference, and it really does determine your altitude, especially in sales because you are the owner of your pipeline, your closings, and your earnings, but as a W-2 employee in sales you don't have the risks and liabilities of being a business owner. 

That's a pretty good deal for now. Sure, you may feel restricted or unappreciated or over-worked for the moment, but it may not be the right time to strike out on your own. You'll know when it is. 

In the meantime, do the work and…

Good Selling,