Do you really need staff?

Accounting is my sister's strength. From age eight, she boldly declared that she would be an accountant - so said, so done. While for me, math and finance make my heart skip for reasons other than excitement.

And even though I confess to not loving math or having the type of aptitude my sister has for numbers, 34% is a failing grade. Right?

 Why am I asking this?

I'm sitting in an aesthetically appealing room attending a learning experience, listening attentively to the presenter explaining their failed attempt at hiring and retaining three staff— and the abysmal outcome. Then one of the participants shared that out of their team of 8 people, three didn't sell anything, two only sold one item per year, and the rock star quit. The last two, who knows what happened?

Ultimately both the presenter and participant articulate that they lost money on their staff and expressed deep frustration.

 While they're talking, I remember this American study. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracked approximately 2000 workers and discovered the average productivity time was 2 hours and 53 minutes during an average 8.8-hour workday. And sometimes, the quality of that productivity was suss at best!

 We've experienced this, the "busy work of" coffee breaks, bathroom breaks, long-drawn-out meetings, and endless emails and voicemails. Or the hypnotic drug of cats, dogs, children, and dance videos on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube—stealing hours of our time; we only meant to watch a 30-second video, yet 3 hours later, we are still falling down that rabbit hole. Alice tripping in Wonderland has nothing on the social media vortex.

I've heard confession is good for the soul, so my distraction, especially during winter, I sit at my desk, but mentally, I'm at home. I daydream about my electric blanket turned up to the highest level imagining that the heat is the hot sun beating down on me as I lay on the sand on my tropical island. As I'm double-dreaming, I strongly suspect that 34% could be 3.4% on the days everything cumulates together.

 As I listen to their frustration while the statistic runs around in my head like a hamster on a wheel, I ask myself, Do you really... REALLY...need staff to run a business. I agree that you need people, but do you need staff?

 Hear me out.

 When I cast off the bonds of being an employee for the shackles of self-employed and ownership, I consciously decided to contract small business owners instead of hiring staff.

 Benefits:

• Increased productivity.
• Working with others with an owner's mindset.
• Minimal managerial responsibilities.
• No CPP, EI, or benefits expenses.
• No need to supply equipment, software, hardware, desks, etc.
• Minimal policies and procedures.
• You don't work. You don't get paid (no wasted dollars).

Downside - at the time, nothing. No money lost and massive productivity.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if we need staff.

I'm not done with the thought, but I want to put it out there. Do we need staff? People need to work, and we all need money, but Rabbi David Lapin describes the Jewish approach to financial prosperity, and I'm thinking hard about the approach.

The approach summarized: everyone runs their own business and develops their expertise, then support each other's business.

Here's the nub, my screen saver!

My screen saver is the caricature of the team I managed at CLC. I'm looking at them while I write this article. During Covid, they contributed to keeping me sane and grounded. What might have happened if I couldn't connect with them during our morning huddles and one-on-one meetings? I don't know what would have happened. Maybe the purpose of employees is more than the productivity time. Could it be the connection and camaraderie?

I'm going to spend more time exploring this idea. But, for all the people I've worked with, from staff and co-workers to small business owners. I am blessed to work with high-performing dedicated boss-up and smack-it-down people who got stuff done like their last breath depended on it. I appreciate you, tribe.

I'll let you know what I decide as I ponder this idea. In the meantime, if you would like to continue the conversation or contribute to the thought, please don't hesitate to let me know by messaging me! 

From a flawed girl philosopher, see you next week.