Business Is A Tough Gig. We Are Judged By Our Worth.

Life Behind The Scenes With The Ironing Diva

The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies is the hook I hang my business hat on. This accidental, rural business, is a dream come true. One of the highlights of my life. This is my journey through the roller coaster world of business. And the choices I make in how to run my dream of a lifetime.
~Carol Jones, Ironing Diva❤

 

Business Is A Tough Gig. We Are Judged By Our Worth.
 

Whether we like it or not. We are all judged by our worth.

I’m not talking $$$ here. I’m talking about the value you add to your community. Your family. Your place of work. Your friends.

Much noise has been raised this week about the $5.8 Million salary of Ahmed Fahour. The CEO of Australia Post.

Who has now resigned because of the furore surrounding this news. Especially as our Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, seemed totally unaware of how much Ahmed was paid.

I knew several years ago that his salary was $4.8 Million. It’s not a secret. But apparently was not know to the government of the day.

In Australia, Ahmed’s salary doesn’t rank in the top ten for CEO’s.

Top of the tree are Peter and Steven Lowy. Of Westfield Corporation. At $24,753,949 each. This is a family company started by their father, David Lowy.

Bottom of the top 10 is Brian Benari of the Challenger Group. At $12,309,238. This is a private financial services group.

Not far from the bottom is Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, at 12.9 million.

We don’t hear many complaints about CEO salaries in the private sector.

Because.

We don’t have to fly Qantas. We don’t have to do business with the Challenger Group. And we don’t have to shop at Westfield shopping centres.

But the public sector is different.

And Australia Post is very different.

It’s a government owned corporate body. Meaning it has a duty to provide a service to the public. While being able to earn a profit.

And the hue and cry about Ahmed’s salary is less about how much he earns. But more about the dissatisfaction in the eyes of the public regarding the poor service now given by Australia Post.

Australia Post posted a $36 Million profit for the last financial year. $18 Million of that profit was gobbled up by salaries for the top 6 ranking executives.

Ahmed Fahour earns $2,788.46 per hour. Before bonuses.

Compare this to:-

A postal delivery worker who earns $24.37 per hour.

A mail sorter who earns $24.05 per hour.

A contractor who earns $22-$25 per hour.

A customer service representative who earns $21.43 per hour.

These are low wages in Australia. Where the average wage in 2016 was $78,832 per year. Or $37.90 per hour for a 40 hour week.

My worldwide, online business, The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies, which is run from my remote rural property in the Central Tablelands of NSW, is totally dependent on the services of Australia Post.

We ship our Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Covers. Superior Felt Underlays. Best Boy Pressing Cloths. Roadworks Aprons. Mr Chin’s Laundry Bags. Travel Bug Shoe Bags. Brass Bristle Brushes. Log Luggers. And Sweet Shoo Fragrant Sachets. To 30 countries. Via Australia Post.

Having been a customer of Australia Post for 23 years, I’ve witnessed a downward slide. And deterioration. Not only in their service. But in the attitudes of head office. And the contractors delivering the mail. And parcels.

I remember contacting Australia Post about a problem I was having with deliveries. And I was told by the person I was talking to in head office, that my company was so small, I was more trouble than I was worth.

Parcel post rates rise every year by 6% to 7%.

Every. Year.

Even though inflation is at an all time low. Petrol prices are lower than normal. Interest rates are at an all time low. And wages are not growing for anyone. Except Ahmed Fahour.

During this time of national deflation, we are not seeing an increase in value for the higher prices we pay for a parcel.

Or to get a letter delivered.

And this is what the anger is about.

A man is earning $2,788 an hour. And the service he’s in charge of is cutting back on the services it offers.

In some areas, mail is no longer delivered every day. And in some rural areas, this is once. Or twice a week. Depending on how remote the location is.

Again. In some areas, contractors will no longer put a red card in your box to tell you that you weren’t home when your parcel was delivered. They now just drop it anywhere on your property. And if it’s in full view of the public, it can be stolen. And now that Australia Post tracks all parcels, if a digital readout says it was delivered. The post office will not compensate the resident for a stolen parcel.

Also. It has been observed that far too many contractors are throwing parcels. From the van. Over the fence.

Rather than getting out of the van. And walking the parcel to the front door.

Is this a reflection of their low salaries? And impossible timetables?

Which is why, since January 1st, I have a page on my website totally devoted to the new way Australia Post delivers parcels. It’s called Postage And Australia Post. You Must Read This Before Placing An Order.

Customers do read it. And now leave precise instructions on their online orders as to how they wish their parcel to be delivered.

We are all judged by our worth. And the value we give others.

For Ahmed Fahour, he is being judged by his worth. Is the value he’s adding to the community for his $5.8 Million salary package in excess. Or even in breakeven. For what he’s paid? And he’s come up wanting. Lacking. Deficient. Inadequate.

Every business is judged the same way. My business, The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies, is no different. If my customers don’t perceive me as adding value to the worth of their purchase, they won’t come back for a second purchase.

It’s the same for you. If your family doesn’t perceive you as adding value to their life, they become grumpy. Hard to get along with. (We’re not talking teenagers, here. Only adults with a modicum of maturity!)

Ditto your co-workers.

Ditto again. Committees you’re a member of. Et al.

I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve heard someone described as a ‘total waster’. And have heard people refer to someone else as ‘worthless’.

We are all judged by our worth. And the value we add to the lives of the people in our sphere of influence. And when that value is perceived to be more than expected. There will be no complaints. From anyone.

~Carol Jones, Ironing Diva❤

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Designers & makers in RURAL Australia of The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover, Log Lugger, Roadworks Apron, Travel Bug Shoe Bag,
Mr Chin’s Laundry Bag, Sweet Shoo.
Every product is a joy to use.