… the originator of ideas is undervalued.

My family has had a business of somekind in my hometown since 1914. That might be where I get my entrepreneurial spirit. While I was growing up, we had a local grocery store named Staiger’s Grocery. Original, isn’t it? I worked there for nearly five years. Primarily, I stocked the shelves and loaded people’s cars with their purchases.

One day, I was maneuvering a large stack of cattle feed (it was Kellyville, Oklahoma – we had to carry groceries for the livestock as well). The stack shifted and began to fall. I tried to keep it from falling and almost got smashed in the process. My father was the store manager. He saw what happened and warned me, “We can replace the feed, but we can’t replace you. Next time, let it go.” I don’t think he said that just because I’m his son. Dad valued the people who worked for him. Actually, he values people… period.

Ask a manager/boss/business owner about the ideas which have made their company successful and they’ll get excited. Usually, these are the stories they love to tell.

Ask about the people they work with or employ and you’ll hear the horror stories. Oddly enough, some love to tell these stories as well.
Problem is – you can replace the ideas, but you can’t replace the people.

Do you devalue the people you work with? Don’t just look at what you say to them. See what your actions say about their value as well. How and when do you reward? How and when do you correct?

How do you let them know they’re irreplaceable? Do you even believe they are?