Are You Getting Paid To Think?

How many times have you heard someone say something like: "I'm not paying you to think, I 'm paying you to do!" Hate to admit it, but I've been on the receiving end of that comment a few times. As a young teenager, I worked in a family restaurant -- and often thought of ways to make my job easier. Sometimes my little experiments worked and sometimes they didn't. But one thing was for sure, the failures always got the most attention -- from the boss. Then would come the famous question: "What do you think you're doing." Which was  usually followed by a fairly sheepish answer. I guess as a young employee, he really wasn't paying me to think. But what about now?


As business owners, it is our responsibility to shift from an employee mindset to that of a strategic business owner -- a CEO. Why is this so important? An employee or technician usually works only in the "now" and does the work assigned. A CEO is working from a much bigger perspective -- the "future." For a business to truly grow, the owner has to see the "big picture" and get out of the daily detail rut.

Strategic thinking is some of the hardest work you can do. That's probably why so few really dare to do it. It takes discipline and stamina and a total willingness to experience a few failures along the way. However, the rewards can be great for those who make the commitment.

So ask yourself: "Are you getting paid to think." Be bold and break out of the daily detail rut.

Here's a favorite quote: "The difference between a rut and a grave is the depth." - Gerald Burrill.