I figure that the ONLY reason that someone goes into business id for two reasons; to have control of their own destiny and to make a PROFIT. I am NOT talking about not for profits that are in business to HELP!

So lets go with the assumption that ETHICAL PROFIT is one's motivation. When I started my business it earned a small profit in the first year and grew to a GP of over $30,000 a month in nine years. I also financed the growth from CASH FLOW and never borrowed a dime. When I started the business colleges askled me "Why" and I replied, "If I am going to have to work for a BUTTHEAD for the rest of my life, it may as well be ME".

I was HARD when I had to be HARD, but I like to think that I was respected in the industry. I had employees and treated them well; they KNEW what I expected, how they would be compensated and had performance guidelines. They were allowed to do "What it took" within the guidelines and KNEW that they had to discuss if they wanted to go outside them. In return, they came up with solutions that I hadn't thought of and the company grew because of them.

When I had just had "ENOUGH", I essentially GAVE the company to my first employee, wished HER luck and offered my assistance if she ever needed it.

I retired to follow a dream, it didn't work out and I missed "THE CHASE".

I accepted a position with a large retailer as their Sales manager over a year ago and it has been TOTAL BUSINESS FRUSTRATION from the first day.

This is a LARGE family owned company that has the potential to TRIPLE NET PROFIT in SIX MONTHS.

"THE BOSS" was basically given the business 15 years ago and he has NO formal business education. He was a BIG TIME college athlete and I have NO idea if he ever graduated with any degree. He realizes his lack of business knowledge and asked me to offer input when I saw the need. He actually said, "You have forgotten more about business than the total rest of the staff, including me will ever know.

I saw this as an opportunity to build his business and was excited about it.

Now, here is the background.

There are a bunch of employees, mostly hourly. They do NOT know who their boss is, have NO measurable goals and job descriptions do NOT exist. The A/P person is a realative of another employee, same with A/R and the office manager / HR manager can't spell "HR". I do NOT think that a single employee has had a performance review EVER.

Here I am, the Sales manager and I do NOT have a QUOTA! I show up on time and collect my check.

I was supposed to do some outside sales, but I have NO idea what promises or special deal have been made by the "Inside sales guy".

The "Inside sales guy" is an absolute PIECE OF WORK! He processes orders to GAIN FRIENDS because he does NOT have a life. The discounts that he gives makes me want to HURL! A customer buys two pieces and he gives them the 1,000 piece price; this is to a customer that does maybe $1,000 a YEAR!

"The Boss" is the same way and it is HIS business. I mention this to him and he just laughs; I have just stopped calling it to his attention because it is like teaching a pig to sing. It is a waste of your time and it annoys the pig.

I have ALWAYS said, "If he is signing your check AND driving the wagon, either GET OFF or keep your mouth SHUT until he / she asks about their driving".

I presented a commission plan to "The Boss" and he LOVED it and said that he wanted to initiate it; that was NINE months ago and NOTHING has been DONE.

I think that "The Boss" is either AHDD, lacks the confidence to make changes or is AFRAID to make the company so successful that he can't handle it. He lacks COMPLETE delgation skills and wants the atmosphere to be FUN. To avoid ANY kind of confrontation that wiil make it NOT FUN he gives EVERYBODY authority; well maybe not "GIVES", but they TAKE it and he doesn't call a stop to it.

It is a TOTAL longevity situation; if you have been an employee two days more than another, then you are their boss and it does NOT make any difference what management skills that you have.

There is a guy that had SEVERE brain damage and survived. He has the keys to the CASTLE and less than ZERO social skills; social skills are generally a good trait to have in a management position. This guy has actually snapped his fingers at me to take care of a customer; it ONLY happened ONCE.

"The Boss" has ZERO delagation skills and actually helped a customer for OVER an HOUR for a $2.00 purchase; I just do NOT understand!

I could bring some MAJOR improvements to this company in the area of teamwork and increased PROFITS if I were allowed. Instead, I have just decided to cash the check and keep my mouth shut; I am just NOT ready to jump off of the wagon and he is just NOT in the mode to LISTEN or make ANY drastic changes.

I wanted to move closer to the office several months ago and he asked me to stay put for future expansion. I probably could have gotten a place for $200 less a month and saved a TON in gas; my commute is about 90 miles round trip.

He mentioned gas and car use ONCE at that was the end of it. He has employees go to different locations and does NOT reimburse for mileage. I do NOT think that he is CHEAP; he just doesn't know any better.

Now here is the GOOD part. Several employees have been fired because the GM (shipping clerk promoted with ZERO management experience) did NOT LIKE their "ATTITUDE".

Three weeks ago I was physically threatened by an employee over something completely STUPID! He used FOUL language in front of customers, had a FIT and physically threatened me. I would consider this as "GOING POSTAL". It was SO BAD that I was ready to defend myself physically in front of a ton of customers.

I reported the incident to BOTH the GM and "The Boss" and he was simply sent to another location for two weeks. He was also TOLD to apologize by both the GM and "The Boss" and he REFUSED; they let it GO!

By this action they have basically GIVEN PERMISSION to ALL EMPLOYEES to do the same; if you don't like a supervisor just threaten to "KICK THEIR DONKEY" and the problem is resolved.

The guy is an AFRICAN American that has been in the United States for around 15 years; educated in British schools and PULLS the "BLACK CARD" when it suits his purposes. He HITS on EVERY BLONDE customer and uses language that is NOT approprite in a business setting and at least one woman has quit because of him.

I am basically making this post to "COVER MY DONKEY" if he gets out of hand. I personally think that he should be FIRED and sent to another company.

Enough for tonight, But what has business come to?