Officially I am an employee. I collect a base, get a W2, and am regulated by corporate HR policies.
But....I am a franchise. The rules, to me, aren't exactly intended for me. I have been trained to ignore the metaphorical and actual "No Soliciting" signs that exist in the world. I must tell C-level executives that they are wrong (often). I often operate outside of many of the norms of the 'social contract'. I must contact total strangers, and let them know that the research I have done on their company leads me to believe they are missing something. I must ask for the opportunity to interview a client to see if they are worth spending more of my time with.
I will set my own schedule, my day may start at 7am. It may start at 10am. It might end in the wee hours of the morning. If I want to go get a milkshake at 2pm in the afternoon, I do so.These are not typical employee situations.
I must market my company. But I also must market myself, because I am a franchise.
I've been called many things. Some nice, some not so much. But one thing I thrive for is to be memorable. There are many tactics for this strategy. This blog, volunteer work, committee membership, being a steward of the community....being a bit of an ass.
It seems the last one works for me. Not everyone will appreciate my approach, sometimes they will outright loathe me. But they generally will not forget me. So, it seems to work.
My franchise, metaphorically speaking, requires me to be challenging. I must call into question the efficiency of whatever your status quo may be. I must push to ensure that 'you' have done your homework. That, in the decision making process, you have a good understanding of what your actual criteria are, and then to push the things that show empirical differences in a sometimes commoditized world. I will hold you accountable, and expect you to do the same for me. Easy way around things? Not with me you won't.
So best I start with a challenging approach, and keep it going from there.
My franchise motto? "I am not here to serve you, I am here to provide you service."
You can like me later.
But....I am a franchise. The rules, to me, aren't exactly intended for me. I have been trained to ignore the metaphorical and actual "No Soliciting" signs that exist in the world. I must tell C-level executives that they are wrong (often). I often operate outside of many of the norms of the 'social contract'. I must contact total strangers, and let them know that the research I have done on their company leads me to believe they are missing something. I must ask for the opportunity to interview a client to see if they are worth spending more of my time with.
I will set my own schedule, my day may start at 7am. It may start at 10am. It might end in the wee hours of the morning. If I want to go get a milkshake at 2pm in the afternoon, I do so.These are not typical employee situations.
I must market my company. But I also must market myself, because I am a franchise.
I've been called many things. Some nice, some not so much. But one thing I thrive for is to be memorable. There are many tactics for this strategy. This blog, volunteer work, committee membership, being a steward of the community....being a bit of an ass.
It seems the last one works for me. Not everyone will appreciate my approach, sometimes they will outright loathe me. But they generally will not forget me. So, it seems to work.
My franchise, metaphorically speaking, requires me to be challenging. I must call into question the efficiency of whatever your status quo may be. I must push to ensure that 'you' have done your homework. That, in the decision making process, you have a good understanding of what your actual criteria are, and then to push the things that show empirical differences in a sometimes commoditized world. I will hold you accountable, and expect you to do the same for me. Easy way around things? Not with me you won't.
So best I start with a challenging approach, and keep it going from there.
My franchise motto? "I am not here to serve you, I am here to provide you service."
You can like me later.
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