Would you pass your knowledge on for free?

[NC Cams]

New rules, gentlemen:

Management doesn't want/expect you to stay in your job for life anymore. They expect you to "move one".

They don't want the burden of your benefits, healthcare, etc.

Some will use and exploit you, especially in the auto industry where jobs are getting scarce and there is a clear pattern of "use them up, spit them out" developing.

I was taught to get job and gain "security". That didn't happen due to my independant nature and outspokeness. They say the cynicism is an impolite way of telling the truth. It may be but when you step on some peoples toes, they have funny ways of saying ouch.

THis much I learned so far. Learn what you can as they can take away your job but they can't take away your education. When you do have the ability to solve problems, you can get a job nealy anyplace - sometimes, you have to provide for yourself and your future.

Few folks have the ambition to create their own business but it can be rewarding - albeit emotionally, but not always financially.

I guess I've come to the realization that I'll never get wealthy working for anybody else. They'll always have their rules which satisfy THEIR objectives. The question is, what about mine???

I did all kinds of neat things for previous employers. In one case, products I designed in the 70's and 80's are STILL being sold and making a profit 20 plus years later. When I checked into a hospital recently, all they wanted were the insurance papers - they could care less what my accomplishments are/were. It's simply business.....

When you have a skill, you have to be prepared to walk. In this case, I'd try to find out WHY does the boss want me to train someone.

Is it because I"m backlogged???
Could I be the bottleneck in growth???
Has the company become TOO dependant on me???
Is he planning to expand???
What are his plans for/with me??? Only the boss knows....

There is a difference between taking advantage of a persons skill as opposed to taking advantage of the person. You'll NEVER get paid what you're truly worth but you'll get a fair wage - buy cheap sell dear is what the employer tries to do...

Don't let yourself be taken advantage. Do protect your interests. Do remain flexible. Figure out what's going on. Talk with your wife. She'll know more than you'll give her credit for.

Talk to friends who are in business for themselves. They'll give you "business insight". I did and its helped me immensely with my self employment. Good luck. The answer is probably staring you in the face....

[truman]

sometimes teaching becomes a learning expierience in itself

[sdantonio]

New rules, gentlemen:

Well said.

I have come to the same realization over the past few years. I wish I had come to it earlier.

I once worked for a small company and in the QC lab there was this absolutely gorgeous young blond straight out of college. She systematically when through every training course she could, both inhouse and outside. 6 months after she had started she left for a fortune 500 company and a much larger salary. She knew enough to take her education and whatever she could learn and run with it much earlier than a lot of people.

She was greatly missed (until she was replaced by the next hot blond a few weeks later).

steven

[sdantonio]

sometimes teaching becomes a learning expierience in itself

Very true also. I have learned more physics and math by teaching it than I feel I ever learned as a student.

[JFettig]

Becuase its something super specialized, I'd say do it for a bonus or something, or get a raise out of it. Although for the most part, I'd do it to pass my knowlege on and do it willingly unless this guy is a complete moron


Jon

[NC Cams]

Memo to JFettig;

At your age, you have a life to look forward to living and can afford to be benevolent.

At 2.75 times your age and NOT at an age where people are standing in line to hire me, the picture is VERY different.

From my perspective, you are either inordinately naive or very, very inexperienced in the realities of business... Things might be that way in school but the situation changes DRASTICALLY in the real world. Ask for a raise and in some industries, you might as well tender a letter of resignation. "you want a WHAT????".

I know of many people, including customers who'd love for me to tell them how to do this, that or the other thing for free - things i spent a small fortune to learn and a life time to perfect an understanding of. I don't think so.....

Yet not a SINGLE solitary one of them, including a former employer manager. gave a hoot when I was hospitalized several years ago. Some didn't even get a card. After it was over and was back on my feet, one even had the nerve to say that "You need to understand, we're friends but this is business... we didn't know if we could "depend" on you....." Real eye opening experience....

Maybe you've been treated nicer than I in an industry that is not as cut throat. But, the auto industry and especially the racing industry, are NOT industries where people give stuff away. Those who do are eaten up/spit out like used tires.

Keep another thing in mind: Management does NOT take kindly to ultimatums and managment can NEVER give in to one - even if they are wrong and in dire need. Management, no matter what you think and are told, is a case of power and control.

Some folks call it life - I call it "Reality 101" and the moron the boss wants me to "teach" can go to the same university I did. He (the untrainee) can get off his/her a$$ and learn he skills like I did and it WASN'T spoon fed to me by a well intended guy who got the shaft after he trained his replacement. Besides, some skills aren't taught - they're learned.

As I struggle to make ends meet daily, I don't have time to nurture someone who probably doesn't have the fundamental knowledge to even begin to learn some of the skills associated with a special skilled trade such as (enter an appropriate one of your choice HERE).

[AMCjeepCJ]

Dunno about you guys but that answered all of my questions

[JFettig]

I understand what you mean, I am a youngin. I supose more of what I meant was 'try' to get that, but if all else fails, dont refuse to do it or anything.


I always look at what I am doing and I just gotta slow down and live life while Im still young.

Jon

[Geof]

If I was reading some of these posts from Jon's perspective I might come to the conclusion that there were a bunch of bitter old men posting. From my perspective I only need to substitute the word young. All I can say is Jon you are definitely younger than most of the posters, you are probably a lot less experienced and more naive and idealistic. You cannot do much about getting older (well you can but that is rather terminal) but you can do lots about gaining experience. When life kicks you in the teeth a few times, which it probably will, then you have a choice; you can lower yourself to the level of the kicker and kick somebody else in a position of less power than yourself and develop into another bitter old man, or you can rise above that type of response.

[JerryFlyGuy]

I couldn't have said it better Geof..

Jerry

[lakeside]

Joh you could be realistic and see that no company is ever going to care about you. That a fact you are a # and it not what you did for the company it what have you done today for the company and how much did it cost

[AMCjeepCJ]

I agree with Geoff, well put! There is something to be said about the ole' 'I'd rather be safe than sorry' line though. One of my favorite expressions is, "there's a ditch on both sides of a road." My take on life is typically, when you have two very different view points, 9 times out of ten the best option is somewhere in the middle. I think the young guys can learn more from the old guys than vice versa but hopefully the old guys can realize that being set in your ways doesn't neccessarily make that way the right one~