I am frequently criticized for my stands promoting capitalism and supply and demand.
I once told a young man who said, “I don’t like to sell stuff and I don’t need to sell stuff,” that he was wrong. I said, “One day you will attempt to convince a young lady to be your wife. If you are wise you will pick one who is far better than you deserve and you will convince her to marry you. That, my friend, is the most important decision you will ever make. Your choice of spouse will affect your happiness, your financial security, the genetics and rearing of your children, your success and your happiness.”
I recently realized the same is true in every aspect of life.
Everyone is involved in selling a product. Everyone should be focused on getting the best value for the product they sell. Each and every day you have the opportunity to resell your product. That product is yourself.
Granted, some people were blessed with a product that is easier to sell but how you promote and sell your product determines your success. You can have a superior product and if you undersell or under produce you will fail.
The key to success is to sell your product (yourself) for the best price. This means preparation, advertising and sales.
In every case when a business needs additional employees they consider the market. Just as when you go to the grocery store to buy a tomato you pick one that meets your needs at the price you can afford. The business is no different. They inspect the available products (you and the other applicants), and choose the one that best fits their needs and financial situation.
Keep in mind that the employer needs employees as much as you need a job. They are also attempting to sell you on the idea of working for them. They are also shopping for the tomato that will do the best job for them.
Unlike the tomato, you have the opportunity to increase your desirability. There are some factors that are necessary in any job.
I once had a young man who applied for a job. He was in his early 20’s and had never been employed. My only question was, “What do you have to offer my business?” His response was, “I have a college degree.” I didn’t hire him. I already had a college degree. What I was looking for was someone who would be an asset. He didn’t know how to sell himself.
He could have and should have said, “I’m willing to work hard, I will be punctual, I will learn quickly, I will do whatever you assign me to the best of my ability and I will strive to expand my ability.”
I met another young man who had tattoos of flames on his cheeks and an obscene word tattooed on his forehead. He claimed he was being discriminated against because of his “body art.”
One of his problems was he insisted he should have a professional job based on his education experience and training BUT from an employer’s viewpoint he could not be put in any position dealing directly with people due to his obscene tattoo.
He claimed discrimination. I told him most employers have employees with tattoos. Most don’t care as long as the person can do the job. However, I added, “Your particular tattoos document poor judgment, poor decision making and a lack of understanding of the consequences of your decisions. Making poor decisions isn’t something I need to increase in my business.”
That young man had a saleable product and had made it un-saleable.
The same applies to raising he minimum wage or in pricing any item. If the price exceeds the value received, sales of the product will drop. This includes people, tomatoes, soft drinks, beer, pretzels, newspapers, automobiles and every other item for sale anywhere.
It is all capitalism and supply and demand. No opinion or governmental edict can change that.
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