A few months back, I had the fortunate opportunity to be invited to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun with one of my old college buddies. Not one to say no, I took him up on the offer. To summarize the experience in one word: amazing.
While it was nice to be there and partake in all the events, I couldn’t help but be entranced by their business model. Within 12 hours of my arrival I had already eaten many plates of sushi, drank countless blended drinks and pretty much cleaned out the pre-stocked fridge in our room. How can a business sustain this clear over indulgence of someone like me? I’m assuming amazing budgeting and math skills as well as a strong understanding of consumer psychology. But is that it?
Demand for Inclusivity
The most remarkable concept of the all-inclusive model is how effectively the value-add entices guests. Through conversing with fellow guests, people generally enjoyed not caring about what they did or what it cost. They loved that everything on the trip was included with that little wristband.
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I rarely watch or read the news. But it seems that every time I turn on the depression-engine, er, I mean news broadcast, there is a report on unemployment. And without fail, there is always a correspondent interviewing jobless folk complaining about everything from their former employer to the President.
What I have yet to hear is any accountability on the unemployed side. And I find myself internally screaming at the TV: Why did you truly get laid off? Was it because someone had it out for you? Or more likely, did you get canned because you suck?
The last time I checked, there were many businesses doing extremely well. Most are hiring. Or at least attempting to fill roles left by another’s departure. This need for new employees holds universally true across most industry jobs, except maybe typewriter technicians and trans-fat factory workers. So what’s up with this historically substantial out-of-work population?
The Rise of Entitlement
Most Americans are ignorant when it comes to self-empowering. No one deserves a secure job. But yet, hundreds of thousands plead with the government and businesses to provide a steady line of work. This is industrial age mentality. And it has given birth to an ugly, half-breed baby with DNA based upon ridiculous pension plans and false sense of job security.
The corporate guarantees (finger points at GM) promised to our workforce over the previous century were obviously unsustainable. And while most companies had changed policies to better accommodate new age strategies for human capital management, the labor force still takes their job for granted. The typical employee mindset goes something like this:
- Go to college…
- Get good grades…
- Graduate…
- Find an entry-level job…
- Kiss ass & work hard…
- Get promoted…
- Repeat steps 5 & 6 until retirement…
What’s missing from this life schedule? That’s right… continual self-improvement. And don’t try to tell me that the management issued training two years ago counts. Or that the pamphlet at the checkout line of Office Max you leafed through last month was career altering.
Stop Lying To Yourself
Everyone believes they have self-worth. Well forget what your mom told you and grow up. If you do not constantly strive for more education, stop complaining about your crappy or no job. You must continually craft your expertise!
Where To Start
There are many options available to effectively, and often times, cheaply improve your chances of landing a great job:
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You can learn a lot from a business’ restroom.
From small signs such as the employee’s level of dedication to things as major as the overall success of the company, a restroom usually never lies. Why? Because when a business or its coworkers are not on the top of their game, the restroom’s cleanliness is the first to go. Toilet paper rolls are left unchanged, the garbage is neglected and the mirror is full of water spots.
My Father’s old business partner/mentor was adamant about this concept. He would never invest into a business with an unclean restroom. And me being taught this at a very young age, I’ve constantly kept my eye on restrooms. It never fails, every clean restroom is found in a successful business. Those unclean facilities I’ve encountered are now mostly all attached to “for lease” empty buildings.
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