道가 사람을 키우는 것이 아니라,
사람만이 道를 키울 수 있다.
그러므로 道가 興하고 亡하는 것은
바로 그러한 사람이 나오느냐 
안 나오느냐에 달려 있는 것이다.
西洋文化가 東洋文化를 침범한지 百餘年,
東洋의 道는 거의 없어져 버리는가 했더니 
하늘은 이 사람을 보내어 그로 하여금 
道의 바퀴를 다시 굴리도록 하였다.


道不弘人人弘道 
道其存廢在其人 
西文東漸道將衰 
天遣斯人使轉輪 

25 Common Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs

Do you have what it takes to get through the recession? Here are the traits that get home based business owners through the hard times.

Regardless of your definition of success, there are, oddly enough, a great number of common characteristics that are shared by successful businesspeople. You can place a check beside each characteristic that you feel that you possess. This way, you can see how you stack up. Even if you don't have all of these characteristics, don't fret. Most can be learned with practice and by developing a winning attitude, especially if you set goals and apply yourself, through strategic planning, to reach those goals in incremental and measurable stages.

The Home Business Musts
Like any activity you pursue, there are certain musts that are required to be successful in a chosen activity. To legally operate a vehicle on public roadways, one must have a driver's license; to excel in sports, one must train and practice; to retire comfortably, one must become an informed investor and actively invest for retirement. If your goal is success in business, then the formula is no different. There are certain musts that have to be fully developed, implemented and managed for your business to succeed. There are many business musts, but this article contains I believe to be some of the more important musts that are required to start, operate and grow a profitable home business.

1. Do what you enjoy.
What you get out of your business in the form of personal satisfaction, financial gain, stability and enjoyment will be the sum of what you put into your business. So if you don't enjoy what you're doing, in all likelihood it's safe to assume that will be reflected in the success of your business--or subsequent lack of success. In fact, if you don't enjoy what you're doing, chances are you won't succeed.

2. Take what you do seriously.
You cannot expect to be effective and successful in business unless you truly believe in your business and in the goods and services that you sell. Far too many home business owners fail to take their own businesses seriously enough, getting easily sidetracked and not staying motivated and keeping their noses to the grindstone. They also fall prey to naysayers who don't take them seriously because they don't work from an office building, office park, storefront, or factory. Little do these skeptics, who rain on the home business owner's parade, know is that the number of people working from home, and making very good annual incomes, has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.
3. Plan everything.
Planning every aspect of your home business is not only a must, but also builds habits that every home business owner should develop, implement, and maintain. The act of business planning is so important because it requires you to analyze each business situation, research and compile data, and make conclusions based mainly on the facts as revealed through the research. Business planning also serves a second function, which is having your goals and how you will achieve them, on paper. You can use the plan that you create both as map to take you from point A to Z and as a yardstick to measure the success of each individual plan or segment within the plan.

4. Manage money wisely.
The lifeblood of any business enterprise is cash flow. You need it to buy inventory, pay for services, promote and market your business, repair and replace tools and equipment, and pay yourself so that you can continue to work. Therefore, all home business owners must become wise money managers to ensure that the cash keeps flowing and the bills get paid. There are two aspects to wise money management.

1. The money you receive from clients in exchange for your goods and services you provide (income)
2. The money you spend on inventory, supplies, wages and other items required to keep your business operating. (expenses)

5. Ask for the sale.
A home business entrepreneur must always remember that marketing, advertising, or promotional activities are completely worthless, regardless of how clever, expensive, or perfectly targeted they are, unless one simple thing is accomplished--ask for the sale. This is not to say that being a great salesperson, advertising copywriting whiz or a public relations specialist isn't a tremendous asset to your business. However, all of these skills will be for naught if you do not actively ask people to buy what you are selling.

6. Remember it's all about the customer.
Your home business is not about the products or services that you sell. Your home business is not about the prices that you charge for your goods and services. Your home business is not about your competition and how to beat them. Your business is all about your customers, or clients, period. After all, your customers are the people that will ultimately decide if your business goes boom or bust. Everything you do in business must be customer focused, including your policies, warranties, payment options, operating hours, presentations, advertising and promotional campaigns and website. In addition, you must know who your customers are inside out and upside down.

7. Become a shameless self-promoter (without becoming obnoxious).
One of the greatest myths about personal or business success is that eventually your business, personal abilities, products or services will get discovered and be embraced by the masses that will beat a path to your door to buy what you are selling. But how can this happen if no one knows who you are, what you sell and why they should be buying?

Self-promotion is one of the most beneficial, yet most underutilized, marketing tools that the majority of home business owners have at their immediate disposal.

8. Project a positive business image.
You have but a passing moment to make a positive and memorable impression on people with whom you intend to do business. Home business owners must go out of their way and make a conscious effort to always project the most professional business image possible. The majority of home business owners do not have the advantage of elaborate offices or elegant storefronts and showrooms to wow prospects and impress customers. Instead, they must rely on imagination, creativity and attention to the smallest detail when creating and maintaining a professional image for their home business.

9. Get to know your customers.
One of the biggest features and often the most significant competitive edge the home based entrepreneur has over the larger competitors is the he can offer personalized attention. Call it high-tech backlash if you will, but customers are sick and tired of hearing that their information is somewhere in the computer and must be retrieved, or told to push a dozen digits to finally get to the right department only to end up with voice mail--from which they never receive a return phone call.

The home business owner can actually answer phone calls, get to know customers, provide personal attention and win over repeat business by doing so. It's a researched fact that most business (80 percent) will come from repeat customers rather than new customers. Therefore, along with trying to draw newcomers, the more you can do to woo your regular customers, the better off you will be in the long run and personalized attention is very much appreciated and remembered in the modern high tech world.

10. Level the playing field with technology.
You should avoid getting overly caught up in the high-tech world, but you should also know how to take advantage of using it. One of the most amazing aspects of the internet is that a one or two person business operating from a basement can have a superior website to a $50 million company, and nobody knows the difference. Make sure you're keeping up with the high-tech world as it suits your needs.. The best technology is that which helps you, not that which impresses your neighbors.

11. Build a top-notch business team.
No one person can build a successful business alone. It's a task that requires a team that is as committed as you to the business and its success. Your business team may include family members, friends, suppliers, business alliances, employees, sub-contractors, industry and business associations, local government and the community. Of course the most important team members will be your customers or clients. Any or all may have a say in how your business will function and a stake in your business future.
12. Become known as an expert.
When you have a problem that needs to be solved, do you seek just anyone's advice or do you seek an expert in the field to help solve your particular problem? Obviously, you want the most accurate information and assistance that you can get. You naturally seek an expert to help solve your problem. You call a plumber when the hot water tank leaks, a real estate agent when it's time to sell your home or a dentist when you have a toothache. Therefore, it only stands to reason that the more you become known for your expertise in your business, the more people will seek you out to tap into your expertise, creating more selling and referral opportunities. In effect, becoming known as an expert is another style of prospecting for new business, just in reverse. Instead of finding new and qualified people to sell to, these people seek you out for your expertise.
13. Create a competitive advantage.
A home business must have a clearly defined unique selling proposition. This is nothing more than a fancy way of asking the vital question, "Why will people choose to do business with you or purchase your product or service instead of doing business with a competitor and buying his product or service?" In other words, what one aspect or combination of aspects is going to separate your business from your competition? Will it be better service, a longer warranty, better selection, longer business hours, more flexible payment options, lowest price, personalized service, better customer service, better return and exchange policies or a combination of several of these?

14. Invest in yourself.
Top entrepreneurs buy and read business and marketing books, magazines, reports, journals, newsletters, websites and industry publications, knowing that these resources will improve their understanding of business and marketing functions and skills. They join business associations and clubs, and they network with other skilled business people to learn their secrets of success and help define their own goals and objectives. Top entrepreneurs attend business and marketing seminars, workshops and training courses, even if they have already mastered the subject matter of the event. They do this because they know that education is an ongoing process. There are usually ways to do things better, in less time, with less effort. In short, top entrepreneurs never stop investing in the most powerful, effective and best business and marketing tool at their immediate disposal--themselves.

15. Be accessible.
We're living in a time when we all expect our fast food lunch at the drive-thru window to be ready in mere minutes, our dry cleaning to be ready for pick-up on the same day, our money to be available at the cash machine and our pizza delivered in 30 minutes or it's free. You see the pattern developing--you must make it as easy as you can for people to do business with you, regardless of the home business you operate.

You must remain cognizant of the fact that few people will work hard, go out of their way, or be inconvenienced just for the privilege of giving you their hard-earned money. The shoe is always on the other foot. Making it easy for people to do business with you means that you must be accessible and knowledgeable about your products and services. You must be able to provide customers with what they want, when they want it.

16. Build a rock-solid reputation.
A good reputation is unquestionably one of the home business owner's most tangible and marketable assets. You can't simply buy a good reputation; it's something that you earn by honoring your promises. If you promise to have the merchandise in the customer's hands by Wednesday, you have no excuse not to have it there. If you offer to repair something, you need to make good on your offer. Consistency in what you offer is the other key factor. If you cannot come through with the same level of service (and products) for clients on a regular basis, they have no reason to trust you . . . and without trust, you won't have a good reputation.

17. Sell benefits.
Pushing product features is for inexperienced or wannabe entrepreneurs. Selling the benefits associated with owning and using the products and services you carry is what sales professionals worldwide focus on to create buying excitement and to sell, sell more, and sell more frequently to their customers. Your advertising, sales presentations, printed marketing materials, product packaging, website, newsletters, trade show exhibit and signage are vital. Every time and every medium used to communicate with your target audience must always be selling the benefits associated with owning your product or using your service.

18. Get involved.
Always go out of your way to get involved in the community that supports your business. You can do this in many ways, such as pitching in to help local charities or the food bank, becoming involved in organizing community events, and getting involved in local politics. You can join associations and clubs that concentrate on programs and policies designed to improve the local community. It's a fact that people like to do business with people they know, like and respect, and with people who do things to help them as members of the community.

19. Grab attention.
Small-business owners cannot waste time, money and energy on promotional activities aimed at building awareness solely through long-term, repeated exposure. If you do, chances are you will go broke long before this goal is accomplished. Instead, every promotional activity you engage in, must put money back in your pocket so that you can continue to grab more attention and grow your business.

20. Master the art of negotiations.
The ability to negotiate effectively is unquestionably a skill that every home business owner must make every effort to master. It's perhaps second in importance only to asking for the sale in terms of home business musts. In business, negotiation skills are used daily. Always remember that mastering the art of negotiation means that your skills are so finely tuned that you can always orchestrate a win-win situation. These win-win arrangements mean that everyone involved feels they have won, which is really the basis for building long-term and profitable business relationships.

21. Design Your workspace for success.
Carefully plan and design your home office workspace to ensure maximum personal performance and productivity and, if necessary, to project professionalism for visiting clients. If at all possible, resist the temptation to turn a corner of the living room or your bedroom into your office. Ideally, you'll want a separate room with a door that closes to keep business activities in and family members out, at least during prime business and revenue generating hours of the day. A den, spare bedroom, basement or converted garage are all ideal candidates for your new home office. If this is not possible, you'll have to find a means of converting a room with a partition or simply find hours to do the bulk of your work when nobody else is home.

22. Get and stay organized.
The key to staying organized is not about which type of file you have or whether you keep a stack or two of papers on your desk, but it's about managing your business. It's about having systems in place to do things. Therefore, you wan to establish a routine by which you can accomplish as much as possible in a given workday, whether that's three hours for a part-time business or seven or nine hours as a full-timer. In fact, you should develop systems and routines for just about every single business activity. Small things such as creating a to-do list at the end of each business day, or for the week, will help keep you on top of important tasks to tackle. Creating a single calendar to work from, not multiple sets for individual tasks or jobs, will also ensure that jobs are completed on schedule and appointments kept. Incorporating family and personal activities into your work calendar is also critical so that you work and plan from a single calendar.

23. Take time off.
The temptation to work around the clock is very real for some home business owners. After all, you don't have a manager telling you it's time to go home because they can't afford the overtime pay. Every person working from home must take time to establish a regular work schedule that includes time to stretch your legs and take lunch breaks, plus some days off and scheduled vacations. Create the schedule as soon as you have made the commitment to start a home business. Of course, your schedule will have to be flexible. You should, therefore, not fill every possible hour in the day. Give yourself a backup hour or two. All work and no play makes you burn out very fast and grumpy customer service is not what people want.

24. Limit the number of hats you wear.
It's difficult for most business owners not to take a hands-on approach. They try to do as much as possible and tackle as many tasks as possible in their business. The ability to multitask, in fact, is a common trait shared by successful entrepreneurs. However, once in a while you have to stand back and look beyond today to determine what's in the best interest of your business and yourself over the long run. Most highly successful entrepreneurs will tell you that from the time they started out, they knew what they were good at and what tasks to delegate to others.

25. Follow-up constantly.
Constant contact, follow-up, and follow-through with customers, prospects, and business alliances should be the mantra of every home business owner, new or established. Constant and consistent follow-up enables you to turn prospects into customers, increase the value of each sale and buying frequency from existing customers, and build stronger business relationships with suppliers and your core business team. Follow-up is especially important with your existing customer base, as the real work begins after the sale. It's easy to sell one product or service, but it takes work to retain customers and keep them coming back.

James Stephenson is an experienced home based consultant with more than 15 years of business and marketing experience. He is the author of several popular books, including Entrepreneur magazine’s Ultimate Startup Directory and Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide, both available from Entrepreneur Press.

6 Steps to the Perfect Pitch
Learn to succeed with investors--from a guy who failed.

By Scott Gerber

Shortly after my college graduation, a few friends and I started a new media company. Within a few weeks we fleshed out the concept, wrote a business plan and set out to seek financing. With a little hustle, I managed to get us a meeting with a well-known investment firm to discuss the opportunity. Even though our business had yet to bring in a single dollar, and none of us had ever been the CEO of coffee shop let alone a multi-million dollar enterprise, we were all confident that we had a sure thing on our hands. After all, our financial projections forecasted gross revenues of $200 million. What investor could say no to that?

We'd be rich. All we needed to do was raise a small amount of capital--$15 million.

I remember thinking, “How hard could it be?” We were obviously, naïve, foolish and delusional.

There was one small problem with our plan. None of us had any idea how to pitch an investor. So I did what any clueless entrepreneurial upstart would do: Google searched “how to pitch an investor”.

Nothing that I read online could have prepared me for what was to come. We would quickly find out that our presentation was doomed before we ever set foot into the meeting. In reality, it was doomed before we started writing the business plan.

At the beginning of the meeting one of the investors asked me to hand him a one-page executive summary review. I hadn’t prepared a summary, so I handed him the first 11 pages out of the binder encasing my 95-page business plan. Strike one.

Less than four slides into my 32-slide presentation, the second investor interrupted me and said, “OK. Stop. I get it. You definitely don’t need $15 million.”

Defending our business plan, I overconfidently replied: “It can’t be done for less.”

“Really? It can’t be done, huh?” he responded with a smirk masking a hint of laughter. Strike two.

Both of the investors then proceeded to hit us with a barrage of questions:

“How much money have you personally put into your business? Anywhere near $15 million?"

“Why should I pay a bunch of twenty-somethings with no track record $100,000 executive salaries?”

“How much revenue has the business produced to date?”

“Why should I give you $15 million when the company hasn’t even made $15?"

“How can you possibly substantiate gross revenues of $200 million in year three?”

“Why are you trying to produce, market and distribute 10 products at the same time before you see if a single one sells at all?”

The questions went on and on. None of our answers were favorable. Strike three.

As you might have guessed, I didn't walk out of that meeting with a $15 million check. I later realized, however, that this was one of the greatest educational experiences of my young career. I learned more about real-world fundraising in 30 minutes than many entrepreneurs learn in a lifetime. To this day, whenever I pitch investors for capital, I always remember these six hard-learned lessons:

Less is always more.

An elevator pitch is vital. Verbose presentations and lengthy explanations will not impress investors, and most likely will turn them off. Present your business in a manner that's short, sweet and to the point. Investors need to be confident that your business will attract and retain customers. If they don’t grasp your concept in a short time span, they may presume that customers won’t understand it either.

* 짧은 시간에 당신이 하고자 하는 말(컨셉)을 상사 또는 투자가가 알아듣지 못한다면, 고객은 당연히 이해하지 못할 겁니다. 바로 옆사람을 혹하게 할 수 있는 정도의 논리나 컨셉이 중요합니다.

Never hypothesize. Execute, execute, execute.

Inspire confidence with facts, not fiction. Most investors seek out low-risk businesses with proven managers that are as close to guarantees as possible. A company with cash flow, a track record and real-world experience has a better chance of getting investors than a business plan forecasting large returns. Find ways to test your business’s viability on a shoestring budget, and turn your idea into a functional business before you seek investment.

* 현금흐름도 좋고, 실적도 있고, 게다가 실제 경험까지 있는 사업가라면 그 어느 사업계획서보다 더 믿음이 가겠지요?

Leave the hockey sticks on the ice.

Excite investors about your big picture, but be reasonable and responsible. Avoid hockey stick projections. Respectable investors will not take you seriously if you present them with nonsensical financial graphs that claim your company’s revenues will grow from $100,000 to $50 million in three years. Show investors that you have a grasp on reality with three versions of financial projections: best case, moderate case and worst case. Base each of these models on facts, past and present performance data, industry and competitor analyses and a series of well-thought-out, defendable assumptions.

* hockey stick이란 하키스틱의 모양 ( √ ) 처럼 짧은 기간에 급성장하는 매출을 의미합니다

Learn to love discount stores.

Being cheap is chic. In an age where spending is out of control, you’ll need to prove that you are a fiscally responsible manager who knows how to get the most out of a buck. Give yourself wiggle room in your operations and marketing budgets, but avoid being excessive. Never ask for a large salary or big-budget perks. Investors want you to be in a position where everything is on the line.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your business won’t be either.

Investors are wary of funding over-eager businesses that seem destined to bite off more than they can chew. Before asking for millions of dollars to fund 50 divisions and hundreds of product lines, prove how well you can create, manage and fulfill demand for a single product. Demonstrate that your business can crawl before you say it can walk. Perfect your marketing tactics, sales strategies and operational procedures.

Investors appreciate companies with sustainable step-and-repeat business models that are poised for exponential growth. Remember, even Google’s success is based on a single product.

* '당신의 사업이 걷는다고 이야기하기 전에 먼저 기어갈 수 있음을 증명하라'는 말, 정말 정신을 버쩍 들게 하는 멋진 비유입니다.

Choose not to be the smartest person in the room.

Know what you know, know what you don’t know and find the people who know what you don’t know. Build a team of credible experts. The smartest leaders in the world are those who surround themselves with smarter people. Investors are funding a management team as much as they are investing in a great business concept.

* 꼭 창업에만 들어맞는 교훈은 아니겠지요? 내가 무엇을 알고 무엇을 모르는 지 아는 것도 정말 힘든 일입니다. 내가 모르는 것을 아는 사람을 찾는 노력이 사업을 하는 사람에게는 정말 필요한 일이지요.

Scott D. Gerber is Entrepreneur.com's Young Entrepreneur columnist and CEO of Gerber Entertainment, a brand development and venture management company that specializes in the entertainment, Internet, media and marketing industries. For information on speaking engagements, media appearances or Gerber Entertainment's portfolio of businesses visit www.GerberEntertainment.com. Follow Scott Gerber on Twitter @yngentrepreneur.

* 출처: www.entrepreneur.com

금융위기가 시작되기 전까지, 약 30년동안 미국을 비롯한 전세계 경제를 한마디로 표현할 수 있는 차트를 발견했습니다. 그것은 바로 아래의 챠트입니다. 30년만기 미 국채의 이자율을 30년동안 보여주는 챠트입니다.

80년대 초부터 최근까지 30년동안 이자율을 보여주고 있는 챠트인데요, 30년간 2년마다 0.5%씩 금리가 하락하고 있는 모습입니다. 물론 중간 중간에 금리가 상승하기도 했지만, 결국 추세는 반전시키지 못했습니다.

이것은 무엇을 말하는 것일까요?

그것은 낮아진 이자율 만큼 부채가 늘어난 것을 말하는 것이라 생각합니다. 30년전 30년만기 국채금리는 14%였고, 현재는 4%대입니다. 미국 경제에 문제가 있을 때마다 기준 금리를 내려왔고, 이렇게 내린 금리는 결국 경제 주체들이 계속 빚을 낼 수 있게 만들었던 것입니다. 그러나 안타깝게도 이제는 더이상 금리를 내릴 수 있는 여력이 없습니다.

미국 경제의 70%를 감당했던 것이 소비였습니다. 이런 소비를 가능하게 했던 것은 결국 저렇게 30년동안 금리를 계속 내려서 빚의 부담을 줄여줬던 것과 저금리로 풀렸던 돈에 의해 부풀어진 자산시장 때문이었습니다. 그러나 이제 기준금리를 더이상 낮출수 없다는 것이 문제가 되고 있습니다. 더이상 빚의 부담을 낮게 해줄 수 없게 되었습니다. 이렇게 금리를 더이상 낮출 수 없을 때 등장한 것은 정부의 빚부담이었을 것입니다. 하지만 정부는 생산의 주체가 아니고 오로지 소비만 할 수 있다는 한계가 있는 것이지요.

금리를 더이상 낮출 수 없는 상황은 위 챠트와 같이 가계부채(신용)의 축소를 바라만 볼 수 밖에 없는 상황이 되었습니다. 대공황이후 가계 신용이 이렇게 줄고 있는 모습은 60년만에 처음 겪게 된 모습입니다. 지금까지 미국 정부가 경기부양책으로 택했던 정책들을 보면 결국 저렇게 줄어드는 신용을 살려보자는 것이었지만, 중고차를 사거나, 주택을 산다고 해서 지원해줬던 세금인센티브에도 불구하고 디레버리지는 계속되고 있습니다. 이렇게 신용의 축소는 소비위주의 경제에게는 마이너스의 역할을 하겠지만, 전체적인 상황을 본다면 매우 긍정적인 모습이라고 생각할 수도 있습니다.

줄어드는 가계신용으로 경제는 아직 회복되기에는 시간이 필요하겠지만, 위 챠트에서 보듯이 국가경제의 건전성은 개선되고 있습니다. GDP대비 가계부채의 비율이 위기 전 100%에 달했었지만, 어느새 70%까지 낮춰져 미국 경제가 다시 자생력을 회복하기까지 어느정도 좋은 역할을 하고 있는 것입니다. 빚은 줄어들었지만, 활력을 찾기위한 경제 자생력은 점점 개선되고 있는 것입니다. 물론 아직 60년 평균비율인 53%대까지 오기까지는 좀더 시간이 필요하겠지만...

그런데 한국의 가계부채의 증가세는 어떻게 해석해야 할까요? 지난 9월달 잠깐 줄어든 한달을 빼고, 역시 10월에도 빚은 계속 늘어나고 있습니다. 그렇다고 저런 빚을 감당하기 위해 소득이 늘어나고 있는 것 같지도 않습니다.

어제 발표된 통계청의 자료에서도 가계의 실질 소득은 계속 줄어들고 있습니다. 하지만 가계부채가 증가하듯이 가계 지출은 계속 확대되고 있습니다. 실물 경기와 별 관련없이 자산시장의 반짝상승에 의한 부의 효과(wealth effect)라고 표현해야 할까요? 정말 한국의 자산,소비 시장은 전세계 경제와 디커플링을 보여주는 것일까요?

한국은 전세계 GDP중에서 약 1%를 차지합니다. 지난 주에는 무역의존도가 GDP의 90%를 넘었다는 기사도 나왔습니다. 이런 상황이라면 디커플링에 대한 꿈은 잠시 접으시고, 허리띠를 졸라매고, 빚을 내고 싶을때 심호흡 한번 하고 참아보시고, 그나마 현재 가지고 있는 빚을 갚는게 더 좋은 선택일 것 같습니다.

날씨가 무척 쌀쌀합니다. 모두들 감기조심하세요~

상승미소드림

139 허드레 일부터 제대로 해라.

대부분의 사람들은 허드레 일을 회사에서 시키면 아주 기분 나빠한다. 학력이 긴 사람들일수록 더 그렇다. 신입 여사원들 중에는 커피 심부름이나 복사 심부름 같은 일을 하고자 취직한 것은 아니라고 불평하는 사람들도 많다. 허드레 일들을 왜 사람들은 우습게 여길까? “나 보다 못한 사람들이 해야만 하는 일을 그들보다 훨씬 잘난 내가 한다는 것은 말이 안 된다”고 생각하기 때문 아닐까?

커피 하나도 제대로 타려면 만만한 일이 아니다. 원두 커피나 그라운드 커피의 종류에 대하여 배웠다고 끝나는 것이 아니다. 인스턴트 커피도 어떻게 타는가에 따라 향이 다르다. 커피잔에 뜨거운 물을 붓고 헹궈 내어 컵의 온도를 따뜻하게 한 뒤 물을 깨끗이 털어 내고 인스턴트 커피를 넣고 뜨거운 물을 조금만 넣어 완전히 잘 갠 뒤 그 다음에 비로서 나머지 물을 채워 넣어야 향이 살아 난다.

그 뿐 만이 아니다. 커피를 타다 준 사람들 각각의 기호 즉 커피와 설탕과 크림이 어떤 식으로 배합되어야 하는지를 기록하여 놓아야 할 것이다. 그 정도까지는 했으니 이젠 됐냐고? 아니. 그 기록한 것을 탕비실에 붙여 놓아 네가 결근했을 때도 다른 사람이 그것을 보고 누구에게 어떻게 커피를 타다 주어야 하는지를 알 수 있도록 하여야 한다(이것이 이른바 “지식경영”이다). 거기까지 하면 되었냐고? 아니. 커피,설탕,프림 등이 한달에 얼마나 소요되는지를 통계로 만들어 현재 이러이러한데 이것을 저러저러하게 개선시켰으면 좋겠다고 말해야 한다. 거기까지 하면 되었냐고? 아니. 종이컵을 사용하여 비용이 많이 사용되니 개인 머그컵을 준비하자고 하면 어떨까… 등등등

복사는 어떨까? 입사 몇 개월이 되었는데도 복사기는 커녕 자기 책상 위에 놓인 전화기에 붙어 있는 여러 보턴들의 기능 조차 제대로 파악하지 못하는 직원들이 대다수이다.(나는 신입사원들이 먼저 고참 사원들에게 복사기 사용 설명서나 키폰 사용 설명서를 달라고 하는 경우가 없다는 것을 경험적으로 안다.)

팩스는 또 어떤가. 팩스 기기에 달린 보턴들에 대해 완벽하게 알려고는 아예 하지도 않는다. 상대방이 팩스를 받았을 때 어떻게 보일 것인지를 미리 생각하며 보내는 직원 역시 100명 중 한명 꼴 밖에 되지 않는다. 99퍼센트는 자기가 가진 서류 원본을 그대로 상대방에게 보낸다. 그 원본에 칼라 도표가 사용되어 있다면 팩스를 받았을 때 흑백으로 인쇄되면서 칼라 구분이 사라지기 때문에 읽을 수 없게 되는 경우가 허다하지만 그런 것은 생각도 하지 않는다. 신문 기사 같은 경우 작은 글씨들을 팩스밀리가 뭉개 버린다는 것을 미리 생각하여 그 부분을 크게 확대해서 보내는 사람 역시 만나기 정말 어렵다.

아주 오래 전의 일. 선박 챠터 비용을 절약하고자 기존에 사용하던 뉴욕의 어느 해운 회사 대신 새로운 해운 회사들과 협상을 하던 중 거래 가능성 있는 곳에 대외비로 문서 하나를 보내야 하였다. 너무나도 중요한 문건이어서 나는 차장급 직원에게 직접 팩스 송신을 지시하였다. 그랬더니 얼마 후 절대로 그 문건 내용을 알아서는 안 될 기존 거래처가 그 내용을 알고 있었다. 원인을 파악하여 보니 팩스 기기에 달려 있는 단축 다이얼을 엉뚱하게 눌러서 잘못 발송된 것이었다. 그로 인하여 회사가 입은 손해는 그 차장의 연봉 몇 년 치에 해당되었다.

은행 심부름? 나는 담당자가 법인이 내야 할 주민세를 제때 내지 않아 과태료만 천만원 가까이 납부한 적도 있다. 과태료는 법인에서 세전 비용으로 처리할 수 없다. 때문에 과태료 천만원을 납부하였다는 말은 그 천만원에 해당되는 법인세와 주민세 마저 추가로 납부하게 된다는 의미이므로 법인에서는 천 몇 백만원을 손해 보게 된다. 애인 생일 보다 더 중요한 것이 세금 납부일자라는 것을 알면서도 은행 심부름을 하찮게 여겨 생긴 결과이다.

서류 정리는 어떨까? 마이크로 소프트의 윈도우가 세상에 등장 하기 오래 전 DOS시대의 이야기이다. 하드 디스크 가격이 너무나 비싸 DOS용 워드 프로세싱 프로그램들은 1 바이트라도 아껴야 했기 때문에 문서제목을 붙일 때 글자수의 제한을 받았다. 당시 대한민국 굴지의 법무법인에서 오래 일했던 직원이 경력 사원으로 입사하였다. 나는 전 직원 중 일부를 골라 불시에 컴퓨터 파일을 체크해 보곤 하였는데 반년 정도 후 그 직원의 파일 목록을 보곤 기절할 지경이 되었다. 문서 제목이 모두 001,002,003 순으로 붙어 있었기 때문이다. 그의 답변은 “법무법인에서도 이렇게 했었는데요…”였다. 내 대답은 “이런 닭 대가리…”(속으로만 말했다). 도대체 그렇게 정리한다면 무슨 문서가 어디에 쳐 박혀 있는지 어떻게 안단 말인가.

허드레 일에서 생겨난 잘못은 종종 회사에 큰 손해를 끼치지만 담당자들은 기껏해야 시말서를 쓰거나 “죄송합니다”라고 말하기만 한다. 야단을 심하게 맞으면 “내가 일부러 그런 것도 아닌데….”라고 하면서 스스로를 정당화 시킨다.

그러면서도 허드레 일 하려고 취직한 것은 아니라고? 그런 작은 것 하나 귀신처럼 하지 못하는데 더 큰일을 달라고? 웃기지 마라. 일본 교토에 있는 일본전산은 연간 매출액 3,000억엔 이상인 초소형 정밀모터 제조업체이다. 이 회사에서 신입사원이 들어오면 1년간 무조건 화장실 청소를 시킨다. 나가모리 사장은 "청소도 하지 못하는 사람이 신제품을 생산하는 것은 불가능하다"고 말한다. 정말 그렇다. 청소 하나 제대로 못하는 사람이 무슨 다른 일을 할 수 있다는 말인가.

허드레 일을 싫어하는 사람들은 자존심을 내 세운다. 내가 이런 일 하려고 취직한 건 아니라고 하면서 말이다. 자존심? 뭔 자존심? 대학물 먹었다는 자존심? 꼴갑 떨지들 말고 주변을 살펴 보아라. 자존심 센 사람을 우리는 다른 말로 콧대가 높다고 한다. 콧대 센 사람을 당신은 좋아하는가? 별로 좋아하지 않을 것이다. 당신은 그런 사람을 별로 좋아하지 않으면서도 스스로는 자존심을 내세우고 콧대를 세운다면 주변에서 어떻게 생각할는지 한번쯤 고려해 본 적이 있는가.

정말 자존심이 세다면 낮은 곳으로 내려가라. 성경에도 낮은 곳으로 내려가라는 말이 나온다. 낮은 곳에서 걸레를 누구보다 먼저 잡고 하찮아 보이는 일들을 즐겁고 기쁜 마음으로 하면서 실수 없이 완벽하게 해 치울 때 그 때 비로서 사람들은 당신을 인정할 것이다. 당신의 자존심은 그렇게 주변 사람들에 의하여 당신이 스스로를 낮출 줄 아는 사람으로 인정 받을 때 저절로 지켜지게 되는 것이다.

(추신: 나는 돈을 꽤 모은 뒤에도 새로운 사업을 하게 되면 작업복을 입고 밑바닥 일을 하곤 했다. 그래야 일 전체를 구석구석 빈틈 없이 알 수 있게 되기 때문이다. 허드레 일 하나도 제대로 하지 못하는 당신이, 허드레 일은 당신보다 못난 사람이 해야 하는 것으로 믿는 당신이, 사업이나 장사를 하겠다고? 돈을 벌고 싶다고? 꿈 깨라. )

조금 무력하긴 하지만, 세상을 해학적으로 풀어쯘 글귀입니다.

사회생활 명언 43가지

1 나까지 나설 필요는 없다
2 헌신하면 헌신짝된다
3 참고 참고 또 참으면 참나무가 ??
4 포기하면 편하다
5 왕관을 쓰려는 자, 그 무게를 견뎌라
6 아니면 말고
7 나도 나지만 너도 너다
8 목숨을 버리면 무기만은 살려주겠다
9 가는말이 고우면 사람을 얕본다.
10 잘생긴 놈은 얼굴값하고 못생긴 놈은 꼴 ?한다
11 공부는 실수를 낳지만 찍기는 기적을 낳는다.
12 까도 내가 까
13 난 오아시스를 원했고 넌 신기루만으로 좋았던거지
14 동정할 거면 돈으로 줘요
15 "내 너 그럴줄 알았다" "그럴줄 알았으면 미리 말을 해주세요"
16 즐길 수 없으면 피하라
17 이것 또한 지나가리라
18 대문으로 가난이 찾아오면 사랑은 창문으로 도망간다
19 "내 부모에게 욕하는건 참아도 나에게 욕하는건 참을 수 없다"
20 일찍 일어나는 새가 더 피곤하다
21 일찍 일어난 벌레는 잡아먹힌다
22 먼저 가는건 순서가 없다
23 똥차가고 벤츠쨈?
24 효도는 셀프
25 먹는 것이 공부라면 세상에서 공부가 가장 좋습니다
26 어려운 길은 길이 아니다.
27 개천에서 용난 놈 만나면 개천으로 끌려들어간다
28 이런 인생으론 자서전도 쓸 수 없다
29 새벽에 맥주와 먹는 치킨은 0칼로리
30 늦었다고 생각 할 때가 가장 늦은거다
31 성형수술하고 나아진게 아니라 하기 전이 최악이었다
32 내일 할 수 있는 일을 오늘 할 필요는 없다
33 되면 한다
34 남자는 애아니면 개다
35 성공은 1%재능과 99% 돈과 빽만 있음 된다
36 지금 쟤 걱정할 때가 아니다.. 내가 더 걱정이다
37 예술은 비싸고 인생은 드럽다.
38 고생끝에 골병난다.
39 하나를 보고 열을 알면 무당눈깔이다
40 원수는 회사에서 만난다.
41 돌다리도 두들겨보면 내손만 아프다
42 재주가 많으면 먹고살만한길이 많다
43 티끌모아봐야 티끌

2003년도 답변이라 현재에는 적용이 안될 듯하지만.. 일단은 올려볼께 ㅎ

금융위원회에 메모장에 질문들은 해봤는데 답변이 없다 ㅠ

 나는 책을 많이 읽진 않는다. 그러나 버스와 지하철에서 책읽기를 좋아한다. 이유는 조금 독특한데, 안에 타고 있는 사람이 모두 지나가는 풍경을 보고 있으므로 나는 고정된 책이라는 공간을 직시하는 것이 좋기 때문이다. 풀어보자면 사람은 차를 타거나 이동수단을 타면 창밖으로 보이는 지나가는 풍경을 무의식 적으로 쳐다보는 경향이 있다고 한다. 그러므로 본능에 이끌려 시간을 허비하거나 사색을 하는 것 보다, 나보다 수 만배 현명한 사람의 책을 읽는 것이 옳고 내가 좋아하는 행동이기에 실행하는 것이다.

버스를 탓을 때 자리가 없든, 만원 버스든 책을 읽는데 요령이 생긴 지라 서서 읽고 있었던 적이 있었다. 그 날 따라 코스모스라는 책을 들고 너무 집중해서 읽었엇다. 내가 출근하고 있는 길이라 역장님이 뒤에서 내가 책읽는 모습을 지켜보고 있었다. 역장님 께서도 나를 좋은 이미지로 봐주어서 무사히 공익근무 생활을 마치게 되었고, 나도 내가 이동하면서 언제나 책을 읽는 습관이 베어있다는 걸 알게 되었다.

 좀 더 책에 대한 욕심을 행동으로 옮겨나가고 내가 관심있어하는 분야에 대한 통찰을 얻기 위해선 독서에 매진해야된다는 생각을 하는 존 템플턴 경의 구절이었다.