What Happened to Loyalty?
First of all, what is loyalty? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is "the quality or state or an instance of being loyal." Then one might ask what is being loyal? I think of being loyal as being faithful to a person, place of business, or employer. According to my interpretation of being loyal, my generation has lost this great life-skill. I would like to make myself clear on what I mean, and I will do that by three different sections: employee/employer relationship, business/customer relationship, and wife/husband relationship.
Employee/Employer Relationship
As I consider taking my business part-time, the one worry I have is loyalty in the workplace. Both the employer and employee lack loyalty, for the most part. By that, I mean people are constantly looking for "the next best thing", and employers are always looking for a way to cut their bottom dollar. Unfortunately, when the employer wants to cut their bottom dollar, this often starts by cutting a senior employee, for a new employee they can pay much less. But who can blame them? After all, most employees are willing to move on for a better paying, more exciting job. In most cases, this new job becomes stagnant in a few months, too.
How do we fix this problem? Better yet, will we ever fix this problem? My dad has had the same job for 30+ years, and will work their for the remainder of his working life. How has he managed this? It all comes back to the employee. Yes, I said it, it is your fault. It is your job to continue improving daily. It is your job to not get comfortable. Once you find yourself becoming comfortable, or not improving daily, ask your boss for a new responsibility. Make yourself so valuable to your company, they can not afford to lay you off, or replace you with someone for lesser money. And if you aren't looking to stay with your company long-term; ask yourself why you are there in the first place. So, go in work with a new attitude. If you have been coasting for any period of time, it's not going to be easy. However, if you want to reap the rewards, make it a top-priortity.
Business/Customer Relationship
This subject is much different that the first. In current times, customers go to the business that offers the best deals on products, or the best customer experience. Who can blame them? In my state (Alabama), a great customer experience only happens at three places: The Apple Store, Whole Foods and Publix (Target is working on it). Aside from those places, customer service and the customer experience is horrendous. Therefore, it only makes sense to go to the places with the best prices. Before long, if not already, this is going to really hurt the local economy. Why would a consumer travel to a store that only offers cheap prices and a bad customer experience, when they can get the same product online, at the same price? Personally, I do most of my shopping at Amazon.com. Why? It is cheap, they offer great customer service, and I do not have to leave the comfort of my home.
How can businesses fix this? In my opinion, instead of worrying about offering the best prices, offer the best customer experience. Make the consumer want to be in your place of business, and not shopping elsewhere. Bring back "the customer is always right" attitude, and do not hire anyone with a piss-poor attitude, because they work for less money. Instead, pay your employees a little more, offer a better work environment, and customers are sure to return. I know, I contradicted my first opinion about employee/employer relationship. However, if a employer cannot offer those minor things, they will always have high turnover, from both employees and customers.
Wife/Husband Relationship
Now, this is the biggest one of them all: the wife/husband relationship. In this great country, divorce rate is above 50% for first-time marriages, and much higher for second and third-time marriages. So, according to that statistic, you have less-than a 50% chance of your marriage lasting! This number is both sickening and sad. Why are marriages failing? I believe it is because a lack of God, and a lack of pursuit. Without a God-centered marriage, you are destined for failure. It is that simple. However, the lack of pursuit, is much more complicated.
When you and your spouse were dating, your were constantly pursuing one another. You were always trying to impress each other, and were always treating each other like you could lose them at any given time. With marriages failing across the country, why would you stop these things? Sure, you probably have gotten comfortable. I know I have. Start treating your spouse like you are always on your second date (the first one is to awkward). Start dressing to impress, doing things you either quit doing or normally wouldn't do, and start pursuing your marriage with an incredible passion. Husbands, start being a gentleman, and doing things with your wife she wants to do. Wives, even if your head is hurting, or you are tired, give your husband what he wants/needs (within reason). Try if for 30 days, and I guarantee you will see a significant change. It is not going to be an easy thing to do, but marriages aren't easy—if they were, divorce rate would be much lower. Remember, even with you pursuing your marriage, if you both do not pursue God first, you are destined for failure.
Why I do not claim to be an expert, I do believe these are some of the main reasons loyalty is falling by the wayside. So, take a minute, and reevaluate your loyalty in each of these areas of your life. If you see changes need to be made, start with the most important, get it straight, and then work your way down. Even though, I think this is a lost cause, I will continue being loyal and pursue loyalty with great passion. I hope you do the same.
