(April 6, 2009- to be filed under current events) Unfortunately, this won't appear in any newspaper.

Twenty-four full and part-time employees (all American citizens) of a profitable midwest business were notified this morning that they will no longer have jobs at the end of this month. Along with the employees, notification was sent out to tweleve subcontractors and ten suppliers that their services will no longer be required as well. In a bold move by the forty-something owner he simply stated "After long thought and careful consideration... I'm tired and have I've had enough". The announcement in this mornings meeting caught most employees by surprise, while several appeared totally indifferent. After the announcement, employees were granted the priviledge of asking questions in regards to the state of affairs of the business. The first question was "Are we in financial trouble or going bankrupt"? The reply was "No, financially speaking- the business is doing quite well". The next question was "Why are we closing"? The owner calmly reached into shirt pocket and pulled out four, 3 x 5 index cards and began to read from the carefully prepared list.

A brief synopsis-

Launching into a carefully controlled tirade he stated "I'm tired. Tired of putting up with the bull****. Tired of jumping through hoops to appease and/or passify both the government and whiney employees with a sense of entitlement. If any of you weren't happy here or thought you could make more money elsewhere, you were free to leave at any time- just like several of your former coworkers did. I'm not happy and I've decided to leave. Since everything from the building to all the machinery belong to me, I'm taking what is mine with me."

2. "There was talk of unionizing a few months ago. I vowed when I started this business sixteen years ago with my own two hands, my own money, and my own sweat that the first talk of a union, I would either close these doors and/or move production elsewhere if I wanted to still stay in business. I refuse to be slowly bled to death by employees whose loyalty stops paycheck; Yet, I am expected to stand behind all of you no matter what. I've had to tolerate lies, theft, and all the excuses. Your paychecks always cleared. Your mistakes corrected. Given the time and freedom to handle personal affairs on company time. It's far cheaper to just close the doors than to battle potential lawsuits because someone thinks they've been unfairly fired or decides to make something up out of spite."

3. "I started this business soley for the purpose of making money and building a better life for myself. This business is over-taxed, over-regulated, and over-burdened. I'm almost spending as much time doing paperwork to make sure this business is compliant as I am trying to do business with customers to make money. This business will never be considered "too big to fail". There are no bailouts, no safety nets for this business, nothing. I no longer want the responsibility for others and no longer have the right incentives to stay in business. My instincts are telling me now is the time to close. That's all I have to say right now."

The owner tucked the index cards back into his shirt pocket, walked back to his office and preceded to convey the morning events here. I'm looking forward to a long overdue vacation starting in May. Perhaps start building my dream house in Arkansas. No more worries.

Who's business is this, that is closing?

Mine

I thought so, you had been warning of this here for a couple of months at least.

'employees were granted the [priviledge] of asking questions'

Interesting wording, I imagine those several that appeared totally indifferent, already had a clue how you felt toward them and the government with out words.

Good luck with your dream house, I would hope you didn't share that bit of news with those you terminated while your business was supposedly doing well, and the economy so bad that many might have difficulty finding work now.

Oh wait they were 'all' just whiney employees, who cares what happens to them, they were helpful in getting you that money to build that dream house. Let's hope the dreams while living in your new home are more pleasent than what your whiney employees are about to face..

Sad but nature always weans out the weaker ones. If he really wanted to run a business and all that entails, he would do it. If he is giving up then he does not have the moxy. In my opinion. No offense intended.

Oh those pesky regulations, cant dump chemical waste down the toilet, omit toxic fumes or carcinogens. those darn MSDS forms the list goes on and on. I am sad you couldnt make a go of it these are tuff tuff times but it is hard for me not to have sympathy for workers who only wish to improve their working conditions and lifestyle. good luck to you regardless.

Considering they (the employees) have no business knowing my business (from a financial perspective), it was a priviledge for them to allow them to ask questions in that area. I do have to thank several here for helping me solidifying my decision.

"Sad but nature always weans out the weaker ones. If he really wanted to run a business and all that entails, he would do it. If he is giving up then he does not have the moxy. In my opinion. No offense intended."

True, nature always weans out the weaker ones; However, that isn't always true in business (I.E. especially those businesses considered "too big to fail" and those subsidized by government). Also, if I were a minority and/or a female- government funds are literally given away for funding of businesses for those individuals (out of political correctness/diversity). I would say those who use their own capital to start a business (without loans/grants)and last more than five years are the truly strong. I lasted 16 very profitable years and have nothing left to prove. I've grown tired of carrying the weak... those who don't contribute at all (those that are capable), tired of subsidizing those who have more excuses to not work than work ethic. Some here like the idea of the redistribution of wealth. I get the unique opportunity to spread poverty now. Instead of me having to support my employees (via employment), you (generally speaking) now get to support them (via welfare if/when they can't find other employment). Nothing that I haven't ranted about before here but now a reality.

As per those "pesky regulations". First thing I would say... tell that to China or Mexico. If one wants American products the government is either going to have to loosen restrictions on American businesses or force other countries to comply with ours (we already know the answer to that one) to compete. Make them have to pay for workman's comp insurance and such. I don't have to worry about those thing anymore either. Considering I breath the same air, drink the same water, and work in the same enviroment as my employees, it wouldn't make much sense to have a unhealthy work enviroment. I actually had more people watching over me to make sure I was compliant with everything than worked for me. People who never ran or owned a business or their own telling others how to run theirs. The best personal example- When one has to explain what a blow-off/relief valve on a water heater is to a plumbing inspector... something is seriously amiss. This wasn't a decision based on economics (business has been very good). This was based entirely on personal happiness. I'm looking forward to a full 8 hours of sleep tonight... first time in years.

Who is John Galt?

Sometimes in life we have to make decisions. I can see yours is a sour reason but it is one, I guess.

I still say if you wanted it bad enough you would not give up on it so easily.

I have a story of adversity too.

I know you do not want my advise but I will give you a bit of it anyway.

Stop worrying about how others live and survive, every struggle is not the same, worry about yourself and how you do it. In the end it will be you who faces you about what you have done with your life and noone else will be there.

That never entered my mind until you posted it. Great post! No, fantastic post! KerryOkudos!

I agree with you Bee.
I have a service oriented Bus. It's small and generally, I work alone. When I do bid and win a decent job, I usually go through two or three employees just to get a month long job done. There isn't much incentive to do quality work and there's no way I could run for materials and leave them alone and expect anything to get done.
They expect more than they are willing to put in and have no consideration about the overhead just to hire and maintain them.

I feel your pain! I spend 14 hours a day trying to make things work. More hoops to jump through add even more to my workload. On top of that the economy sucks and people with money don't want to spend it. I'm sick of filing NOI's to owners while I could be out finding more work. The way the insanity of politics is going, soon the only people working will be underskilled and overpaid. I won't get started on unions and their pull with politicians. It seems there is no longer any advantage to just wanting to do an honest days work.

Every new 'program' that you see has a corrupt politician pulling strings and making money under the table, don't doubt it.

No real business is ever built, nor should be built to provide jobs or to cure a government imposed crises.

The sole fact that brain-dead bureaucrats think it should, doesn't make it so.

For that purpose we have Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with Sallie Mae, and bunch of other "feel good" agencies.

yeah, by the time this country is fully socialized, there are going to be only strong businesses left.

As any socialist paradise can easily demonstrate.

KerryO's post (John Galt) describes me and my beliefs almost perfectly. Oy vey! Almost too eerie (great call again KerryO). If you want to see where I am coming from...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_John_Galt%3F

Only time will tell if this was a right decision to do or not. Right now, I believe it's probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. If not, I'm confident in my skills, talents, education, and abilities will be enough to achieve other endeavors/ventures (as an individual).

I have no significant stories of adversity that I haven't been able to overcome (E.G. the likes of Stephen Hawking has to overcome). Whatever my personal shortcomings are/were in regards to the things I desire to achieve, I either can do it or I can't. Acknowledging simple reality that life isn't fair nor equal. I will never set a world's record in the 100 meter dash; However, If I'm given a 90 meter head start by the governing olympic committee (the government) I'll set the record. Why should any other athlete train and work hard to strive to set the record then if I'm going to be given some advantage?

I'm not worried how others live and survive, not in the least... so long at it's not at my expense. Charity and volunteerism is one thing... legalized theft and forced redistribution of the fruits of my labor is another. One can't make poor people rich by making the rich poor. If I am to be made poorer, that will only make the poor only poorer in the long run. I'm not jealous nor envious of those richer or wealthier than myself. I can only seek to be the best I can be. If I am to be punished for success and achievement why strive for it? We can all be mediocre together.

Thought you might catch the drift on that one. :)

I dunno, I took a few years off myself when I was about your age. I ended up hating it! But also hating the grind as badly as the restlessness, I got involved in what amounted to a small scale keiretsu. You might say it allowed me to have it both ways-- to keep just a little 'skin in the game' without as much grief and sleepless nights.

I also did a little volunteer work after having almost died alone, save for the efforts of some volunteers. Those experiences made me see how Jonesing transforms some people into narcissistic 'whiners', but also how some people do have good hearts but lack the tools or circumstances to allow them to meet their legitimate needs. Sometimes they just need a nudge.

Remember, John Galt was also one of Hugh Akston's three star philosophy students. I've always had the sneaking suspicion Nathaniel Branden's influence on Ayn Rand would have seen Galt turning a little more progressive in the sequel. :)


-Kerry O.

I understand your reasoning. I get it. Your dream is yours, and if you can bring someone along with you...then it is all good.
We sometimes let others know more than they have a right too. Fortunately or unforunately..small business's get close to their employees, friendships get in the way and sometimes the bussiness gets hurt.

I also had my own business for ten years. I went through employee after employee after employee. They wanted more than I got. Felt like they were more important than me. Fact was; it was very hard to keep an employee....a good one for any amount of time. I have only had one that actually stuck with me and was there whenever I called..or needed her. She worked very hard and if I could have done more for her I sure would have.

It comes down to "makin it or breakin it".

I had to close the doors to my business. It was that or go belly under. It was beginning to cost me more and more. Hell, even tax laws were taking more and more and giving me less and less to claim. When it was all over with this last year...I barely made over what I had to pay back. The experience was great, I had a lot of fun. Met some great people. Learned a LOT! I learned that I couldn't trust many people to do what I asked. I told them straight up."no drugs before, during or on breaks". No drinking til they were on their own time. That was violated many times. By many. I had to fire them. Where is the respect?

I may try again at a later time...but things will have to be better before I try it again.

Good luck to you. Maybe later you will find another way to make a go of it.

Kat

I wish you the best of luck bee

I feel bad for the employees....until what I heard today that is.

I was at an office to get help with some paperwork i didn't know how to fill out, when a man came in an started looking t=at the help wanted paper they hang up.

He talked about a job listing that he was interested in but wouldn't take unless they pay him $14 an hour...no wonder jobs are being outsourced

Americans want jobs but they won't work for less than wha they think they are worth. I went from a $13 an hour job down to on disability and when i am ready to return to the workforce...there may not be any jobs for me

I will be happy to work for minimum wage if that is what's available.