[I WAS THERE]

I WAS WONDERING IF LONG TIME ERAC EMPLOYEES (THAT HAVE NOT MOVED UP AS FAST AS THEY WERE LED TO BELIEVE) STILL BELIEVE THAT THE BIG GREEN DREAM STILL EXISTS?

I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE 7+ YEARS AND ARE STILL AT THE MANAGER OR AREA MANAGER ROLE. ACTUALLY, SOME ARE YEAR 10 AND 12 AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT GP53AA HAS A 6 YEAR MT.

AFTER THAT LENGTH OF TIME AND THE "SIX FIGURES IN SIX YEARS" "UNSPOKEN" RULE - I WOULD ASSUME THAT PEOPLE WOULD GET WISE AND LEAVE.

MY THOUGHT IS THIS...THE REALITY OF THE BIG GREEN DREAM IS DEAD - THE GROWTH, WHILE TREMENDOUS, NEGATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIGGER (HIGHER LEVELS) PROMOTIONS BECAUSE THE POOL HAS EXPANDED SO MUCH AT THE BRANCH MANAGER/ASST MANAGER (EXEMPT) LEVEL AND THAT ENDS AT THE AREA MANAGER POSITION. (HERE WE GROW AGAIN IS NOT NECESSARILY A GOOD THING)

WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT BECAUSE OF SO MUCH MOVEMENT DOWN LOW - THE COMPANY CAN KEEP PAYING LOWER SALARIES TO THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WILL PROBABLY NEVER MAKE IT TO SEE A LEVEL III OR IV PROMOTION. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE AIMING FOR THAT SLIM SHOT AT ERAC STARDOM.

HAS ANYONE IN RECENT YEARS SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVED UP INTO LEVEL III AND IV POSITIONS LIKE THEY DID....SAY 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO? I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET PROMOTED BECAUSE OF ATTRITION, BUT OVERALL I DOUBT THAT A LOT OF PROMOTIONS WERE MERIT BASED, BUT I COULD BE WRONG. THAT IS JUST MY THOUGHT, BUT AFTER 6 YEARS OF STAGNATION IT WOULD BE TIME FOR A CHANGE.

I GUESS THE OTHER THOUGHT THAT KEEP PEOPLE FROM MOVING ON IS THE BELIEF THEY CAN DO NOTHING ELSE. I CAN TELL YOU - YOU ARE GEARED FOR A SALES OPPORTUNITY - ERAC IS ABOUT SALES. THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

THE OTHER SCHOOL OF THOUGHT IS "I'M COMFORTABLE AND AFRAID TO MOVE." WHY? YOU OBVIOUSLY MADE A MOVE FROM YOUR PREVIOUS CAREER.

IF RENTING CARS, SELLING WAIVER, WASHING CARS IN 100 DEGREE HEAT AND ESSENTIALLY PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE TAYLOR'S POCKET IS YOUR IDEA OF A CAREER AND "FUN"- THEN HAVE AT IT.

I'M JUST SAYING THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO MAKE MONEY AND REGAIN YOUR LIFE.

YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AT WHATEVER YOU WANT - YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THAT COMFORT ZONE.

I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS;

There is no royal road to anything.
One thing at a time, all things in succession, is the rule of life.
That which grows fast, withers as rapidly.
That which grows slowly, endures.
Do not despise the bottom rungs in your ascent to greatness.

(UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN DOING THE SAME THING FOR 6 YEARS AND STILL TAKING CORPORATE ACCOUNT HITS TO YOUR NUMBER - BRANCH MANAGERS)