Who is Responsible to Pay for Your Self-Improvement, You or Your Employer?
Are you a commissioned sales person? Or maybe you receive a salary plus commission. Occasionally you have the opportunity to attend a company- provided training or seminar; however, you want to advance your career. More specifically, you want to “fast track” your career. You want to expedite your advancement. Who is responsible to pay for your self-improvement, you or your employer?
You might answer, “The employer gets the benefit from providing me knowledge. The company will increase their revenues, therefore, they should pay for my training.” Valid point; the employer receives value as long as you are employed there. You could say that your length of employ, if the employer treats you well, could be your lifetime. Counterpoint, you retain the learned information all your life, guaranteed! If you pay for it, you bought it, you own it, and you can do ANYTHING you want with it. You can then take it anywhere you want to go, and use it as you wish.
This taking control of your life is a big deal! In reality, we are all self-employed. We are all responsible for our self-development. To really control our destiny, we need to take control. Of course, you can encumber your employer to pay for your training. I propose that you take it when it is offered and when you know that it will help. Take training when offered even when the employer will not pay. Take it and pay for it yourself.
I know a guy who followed the typical model. An employee of no less than three Fortune 500 Companies during a 17-year period, he always looked at self-improvement as something the employer should provide. He never shouldered any responsibility for continuous improvement by himself. He never read self-improvement books. After college, learning was left to on-the-job training. Over those 17 years, he had lost four jobs in five years. His college training and the job training took him far enough to leave him unemployed.
His transition started once he took responsibility for his growth and training. First he changed careers transitioning from engineering to a career in sales. As he went into sales, he did everything he was told by his sales training manager. He bought, and more importantly, read three books on sales by Zig Zigler. He bought four sets of Zig Zigler audiotapes. He turned travel time in his car to University time, memorizing many, wearing out more. He memorized and repeated mantras that Zig suggested. He rehearsed special sayings before entering a sales opportunity. He went so far as to schedule a breakfast meeting with Zigler. He met Zig at 5:30 a.m. the morning of the breakfast just to have Zig sign his book “Over the Top”.
Since his days as an employee, he successfully runs two companies and is growing his business nationwide. He works with people in business who want to attract the right prospects and generate more referrals. He has clear target markets while continuing to develop new ways to support those markets.
He will always have a coach or mentor on his team. Since he left industry, he has no less than four coaches helping him with his business. He attends seminars that help him grow. (On average one per month; he is not a seminar junkie.) He has become a successful reader, frequently quoting favorite authors. He has learned that he is responsible for his success!
Who is responsible to pay for your self-improvement? You are! Start today!
Gerry Rose runs INTEGRITY Networking Solutions in Oceanside, CA. He works with realtors who want to attract the right prospects and their affinity partners who want to generate more referrals. More than 10,000 businesses have been presented the INTEGRITY Networking Solutions system in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange Counties.
Gerry’s stimulating presentation Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals is ideally suited for small business owners, home-based businesses, and independent professionals who want clearer direction and want to attract more prospects, develop dynamic systems, and strengthen their companies’ accountability. Gerry does one on one consulting, conducts a range of keynote speeches from thirty minutes to full-day education workshops.
His books, Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals, 101 Tips to Attract Prospects, 101 Tips to Generate Referrals and Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals, Giving Your Clients What They WANT, So You Get What You WANT are currently available. Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals, Using Your Time, Energy, and Creativity to Create Value, will be available in 2006.
Gerry has more than 20 years’ experience directing business owners how to grow their businesses. He is a networking dynamo. Those who know him will assure you that he does a great job of bringing people together—which is why he started Integrity.
Involved with networking organizations since 1984, Gerry is an Accomplished Toastmaster, a member of Toastmaster International, and has chaired numerous chambers of commerce and non-profit organizations.
Are you truly committed to attracting the right prospects and generate more referrals? If so then contact INTEGRITY Networking Solutions for availability and information. You can contact Gerry by mail at 1610 Quiet Hills Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056. Direct dial (760) 439-4623; e-mail to gerry@integritysd.com. For more information, go to www.integritysd.com
