Physician, heal thyself

This saying, that dates back to biblical times, means attend to one's own faults, in preference to pointing out the faults of others. The phrase alludes to the readiness and ability of physicians to heal sickness in others while sometimes not being able or willing to heal themselves. This suggests something of 'the cobbler always wears the worst shoes', i.e. cobblers are too poor and busy to attend to their own footwear. It also suggests that physicians, while often being able to help the sick, cannot always do so and, when sick themselves, are no better placed than anyone else.

A pithy saying, a bit dated for these modern times, but spot on with what ills the Staffing Industry.

What the industry sells to business clients is flexibility and access to talent; responsiveness and quality, as well as specialization and depth in any one industry or discipline. With economic times uncertain, the need for flexibility and talent is more acute, a message Staffing Industry companies are quick to point out to customers who have cut back on spending on staffing and talent searches.

Staffing Industry leaders; however, espouse the benefits of industry services staffing firms bring to the economy, while at the same time have cut back or eliminated the use of "in-house" temporary employees and put a freeze on using outside search firms to find them talent specific to their industry segment. Hmm...what is wrong with this picture?

Another proverb says it best...charity begins at home. You should take care of family and people close to you before you worry about helping others. For customers and the industry analysts to have confidence in the industry as a whole, we must set the example to validate what we sell is truly of value to businesses--even in difficult economic times.

As the premier source of top talent to the Staffing and Human Capital Services Industries, I have the pleasure of working with companies who value talent and trust us to be the specialist practice we are to provide talent for sales, recruiting, client services, management and executive positions. We do, however, come across companies that have shut down the use of the very services that they sell.

In my opinion, this is a factor germane to the success or failure of the industry to recover. Be a part of the solution to our fiscal challenges and use Staffing Industry services, benefit from the flexibility and the access to talent that are central to growth and prosperity.

With talent, we can help.