When you saw the title of this article, what came to mind? That was actually a trick question for anyone other than the soloprenuer. If you are a soloprenuer, your best asset might be a “what.” But, for the rest of us – your best asset is probably a “who.”Earlier this year, Steve Ballmer announced that Microsoft would be raising employee salaries as a part of an overall revamp of its employee review and compensation system. This shift is proof of Microsoft’s attempt to protect their best asset – their people. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, some of the best known web companies from the Bay Area –  including Zygna, Salesforce, Google and Facebook are opening satellite offices in Seattle in order to tap the region’s pool of software engineering talent. Though companies like Microsoft can offer comparable compensation packages, the news doesn’t bode well for local start ups.
So, I am here to put a little bug in your ear. I’m not telling you to go and give each of your employees a 15% raise, but I am reminding you to keep your best people at the forefront of your mind. Make them a part of a mission that is bigger than themselves and more important than their yearly salary.