Sign Company Employees and Owner Money

Let’s review so everybody understands.

Media 1 installers led by Rick Ream (in front) positioning a piece of the Camping World Stadium signage.  PHOTO: KEVIN LANDERS MEDIA

NOT YOU, NOT YOUR FRIENDS, not your family, not your employees, not even Elon.

Ooooh, ​another Attention Grabber this month… Know why? ’Cause everyone wants more. More money, more toys, more security, more happiness, more accolades, the list goes on…

Conversely, more also provides you with less. Less debt, less stress, less fear, less maddening life uncertainty, right? That’s why we as humans typically strive for more than we currently have. Goals. Ambitions. Family. Money! Once again, the list goes on.

Now, this can be a good endeavor or a bad one. (I guess that depends on how greedy you are.) But let me get to how all of this applies to the employee/employer relationship dynamic.

Per last month’s column (see ST, September 2026), employees must make more (there’s that word again) than they cost a company. Period, no discussion.

But they want more money too. What? Of course they do. (Refer to earlier paragraphs.) But so do you!

I never understood the concept of business owners who wanted to keep all their money, while paying the guys that generate that money as little as he can get away with. Bad business.

This ain’t B.C. Egypt. And no one is trying to build a pyramid. The point is, they are there because you hired them, because you believed in their resume: You believed they would be a good fit for your company. And most importantly, you believed they would make more money than they cost you. It’s a concept as old as time.

When employers sit down with a potential new hire, they should be overjoyed that they feel this person is exactly what they need. If they don’t, do not hire them. (Listen to me preach, when I fail at this much of the time). The point is, out of the gate, the sky is the limit. New hire starts. There are three categories: They’re awesome, they have issues (which can be fixed) or they need to go immediately.

If you don’t know which category they’re in, survey your other guys. They know. And they will absolutely tell you, because they want a guy that will help the company grow! Just like you do.

But why?

Why do employees care? Do I have to say it? Because they want more. Just like you do.

So, stop looking at your employees as enemies! I know that’s harsh wording but think about it. You hired them with the vision they were gonna make you more money. Are they doing that? If not, can they be molded? They are literally your partner. They succeed, you succeed. End of discussion.

So, you have chores. (Or people you trust have chores.) You gotta determine which category they land in. Amazing? Give them a raise 90 days in. They literally suck? Fire them. Now. They are OK? Talk to them about what you need. What you expect from them. Tell them what they are good at. And tell them what they’re bad at, too. Because you hired them to be your superstar.

Hold them to that standard. (God, here I am preaching again. : )

Rick and I don’t pay our guys more than any other legit sign company. But they are all still here. With us. Because we value their ridiculous talents, and we share with them what’s going on with the workings of the company… all the time.

Because they are the craftsmen who turn the wheels.

Signs of The Times Article