I heard Tim Sheehy, President of the Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce, say that the days when you could earn a living with a “strong back and a good alarm clock” are over. The New York Times covered this well in “Two Tiers Slipping Into One,” by Louis Uchitelle (02.26.06). Caterpillar, one of the world’s most profitable manufacturers, makes no bones about paying entry level workers just $12/hour. Hardly a living wage. But on the flip, training is available to each Caterpillar employee. The tacit understanding is, “If you want to earn more money, develop more skills and prove yourself.”
I like this approach. It reminds me of my basketball days. Standing 6 feet tall on a team of five-and-a-halfers doesn’t guarantee you a starting position. I started IF I attended practice, out-hustled girls who wanted the same starting position, and could convert - that is, score.
American workers, including upstarts from my generation, must move from an entitlement mindset, “My dad made $25 an hour, so I should, too” to one that more closely mirrors my hardwood days. Wouldn’t you rather know that your EARNED it?
