I Work For Me
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (78761)
United States
December 8, 2022 6:43am CST
I think it is an important distinction to make. I do not work for the company I am employed by. I work with the company I am employed by. In other words, it is a give and take. I need and want something they are offering, and they need and want what I am offering, and so long as both I and my employer satisfy each other's needs, that relationship can be allowed to continue.
On both sides, this arrangement of sorts can be terminated at a moment's notice, and I make it a point to make sure that is understood. I equally understand it on my end.
In making this arrangement, of course, one has to be fair. Both the employer and the employee. I have to be realistic about my worth, and the company has to be realistic about their evaluation of that.
So far I feel like the company mostly has it right, although there is room for improvement, especially on the hourly portion of my compensation. So, for that reason they are permitted to enjoy the work I offer that puts money in their coffers.
Ultimately, I work for me. The company simply enjoys the benefits they receive that are a result of my own personal wants and goals being met.
At the same time because of my personal skill set and abilities, the bottom line is that they need me more than I need them. And I also make it a point to make that understood. With the thought in mind that I am fair in the assessment of my own personal worth.
If the company disagrees with that, it's over.
12 people like this
12 responses
@porwest (78761)
• United States
8 Dec 22
I always like to think of it as a give and take kind of a thing, not a one-sided thing like so many people find it happens to be.
When one takes care of their financial house and keeps that in order, it opens doors, leaves more options, and gives the individual worker much more flexibility in what they can do and how much they have to give of themselves.
When you have money in the bank you can afford to make certain decisions others cannot.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215428)
• Chile
8 Dec 22
@porwest I want to add that all the people I have loved (myself included) have liked their work very much.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
9 Dec 22
@marguicha I'd rather spend my time doing other things, but many people do love what they do and I suppose that makes all the difference. I just have too many desires and hobbies to be tied down by work.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
9 Dec 22
Your situation is unique because you work in sales. Many other jobs don't "fill the coffers" of their employer. My job as Accounting Office Manager didn't bring any $ in unless I took a sales call.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
15 Dec 22
@porwest When they finally let me go (on Christmas Eve no less); I was upset because I was 62 and without a job. However, on one of the first interviews I went on, the guy wanted to hire me! I really didn't want the job because it was far from home and I had filed for disability. We were not in any financial difficulty; so I kept looking; until June when I got my disability decision from the government. Unfortunately I couldn't get on COBRA medical insurance because the company that went "bankrupt" didn't pay their medical premiums...sooooo I had to pay through the teeth for medical for 2 years until I could get on Medicare. Why am I telling you all this? I don't know.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
14 Dec 22
@LindaOHio Situations are sometimes those that we create for ourselves. For example, and this is never intended to be a brag, but I can afford to quit. That's the key to having this arrangement as well. It does not have to be their way or the highway—if both sides cannot operate in a way conducive to their own wants and needs, the arrangement fails.
The company gets a worker who refrains from doing certain things because they fear job loss and the company loses. And the employee loses because they are stuck in a circumstance that they cannot be in better control of.
It is part of the reason, at least for the younger people, I harp so much on the value of money. It's not just about a number. It's about freedom. And there is no greater freedom than not being forced to do things you don't want to or that are not in our best interests just because we don't have enough tucked away to make decisions for our own purposes and reasons, but rather for the purposes or reasons in the interest of the other party involved.
Again, if it is a one-sided deal, it falls apart.
1 person likes this
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
8 Dec 22
I never thought of work that way. It's good that you are your own person. and that you can quit anytime you feel like it. That is you can terminate your agreement at a moment's notice. I wonder if you will receive a pension from the company? You don't need to answer if you don't want to. I'm just curious. 
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86754)
• United States
8 Dec 22
As long as it is working for your benefit that is the ticket.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
9 Dec 22
It seems like an odd picture choice for a post like this, but I suppose it was representative of putting food on the table? Or I just had no other appropriate picture when I posted? lol. But yes, the first priority is ME, MY families needs, MY wants and desires and MY personal goals and aspirations. Everything and everyone else is secondary.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Dec 22
More people should understand that relationship. I started thinking like you did years ago. To me, it was a huge relief and burden off my shoulders. I work for me. And when the time comes that I don’t enjoy or agree with the relationship between me and my employer, I walk. Fortunately, I enjoyed a little my career with my previous employer before I came to the conclusion it was time to retire. I went out on my terms, not theirs.
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
9 Dec 22
Never thought of it that way but you make a good point here. Always thought if it as us working for them, especially since they are the boss.
@aninditasen (15742)
• Raurkela, India
8 Dec 22
In India rarely does a company values a employees worth. An efficient employee is overburdened with work while the bosses have a ball but seldom compensate the labour of the employees.
@Rashnag (30598)
• Surat, India
8 Dec 22
Ok dear. It's good how you put it in this way. May I know what you do for a living?! Have a good day. Take care 
@Brandford (49)
• Nairobi, Kenya
8 Dec 22
Having your own skills is the best thing ever, you can work with whoever you want or else you employ yourself.No stress at all in managing your business.
