Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
I have told my boss that I would like to go down to 2.5 days per week, so I can spend the remaining two days setting up a website business of my own. He was disappointed but has agreed.
Before I make the jump, am I missing a trick? I still suspect that there could be some way of making myself a lot of money in the course of making him rich. Are there any radical ways of making sure that my earnings from him are based on results? Perhaps I could buy the website off him (but how would I finance it)? Or do an earn out?
What do you think? How can I profit from the work that I am already doing successfully. Am I overlooking a big opportunity?
Or will it never work, and should I focus on starting my own thing?
I'd love to hear your views.
Kind regards,
John
you may well bring a lot to the company but you may be surprised at how little that is valued by your boss.
going part time is the perfect way to start up yourself.
1.whatever happens, at least start your on site...even if its a case of not flicking the switch...at least get it out there...
2. suggest a trial 2 and a half day thingy (whilst your working on your site)...during this trial.....turn some of the marketing off.....without him kinda knowing....nothing illegal of course.....just drop down a couple of gears.
3. after implementing 2...if you have done it right....the sales will drop......now he gets worried........you suggest more of a partnership role and go back full timish...
4. If he dont buy it you would have had time to work on your own site....
..................................................
1. prepare a sales account/analysis and confront him with it - and ask him for a new deal...based on basic salary plus sales commission...or lead generation....whatever....
2. If he agrees - great
3. If he dont agree - BEWARE OF THE FOLLOWING UNLESS YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF IT COMING OFF...call his bluff....either that you have been offered a similar deal with another company......or your gonna seek legal advice to ascertain back bonus and exploitation......
...during this trial.....turn some of the marketing off.....without him kinda knowing....nothing illegal of course....
Don't do that under any circumstances. Anyone who does that doesn't deserve to be paid at all, let alone get a bigger slice of the pie.
perhaps I worded my intention wrongly....
However, I think under the circumstances (in the context of the question)......less effort could be put into the marketing.......its his only way to show his true worth to the boss....as you probably know.....and as he has said.....is SEO skills are worth a few quid.....and you just cannot explain the worth of a skill like that - so it has to be demonstrated.......
However, many sales/marketing people overinflate their value to the company, mistakingly feel that they are solely responsible for the revenue that comes in. They seem to forget about the people who:
- process the orders
- provide customer service
- create or buy/maintain the inventory
- develop/maintain the web site
Depending on the company/product, there may be other positions in the "supply chain" as well.
Another issue is that you'll be giving your boss mixed signals. First you say you want some time to devote to your own business, then you say that you want a bigger slice of the pie at your current job. Divided loyalties are never perceived very well by management. Also, taking time to develop your own business sounds very much like a precursor to jumping ship to do your own business full-time.
giving 20 bucks of effort and only getting paid 10 bucks for it.
Call me old fashioned, but I believe that during working hours you are obliged to work as hard as you can on the tasks provided, whether you are getting $5 an hour or $50. That's obviously what John has been doing, and he is to be commended for it. It is a quality which will bring him every success whether working on his own, or for any other company.
Employers aren't charities and bosses who condone their employees 'making work last' have lost touch with the objective of their business.
You've hit on two ways, but there is a third that means you can form your own company, still work for your boss, AND work for yourself.
I started my own company (ILD) last year to market a business opportunity and to sell products ranging from healthcare supplements to digital photography. Most of my business comes from an online shop that I bought from NSE, the network marketing company based in Utah.
If you've got the skills to make a web business work, i.e. you can bring in the traffic, then there's nothing stopping you from doing the same. There are plenty of people out there who want to start up in business for themselves and make money for themselves. The deal is to communicate to them that they can do it!
Learn to value yourself and don't let your boss take advantage of you!
