Entrepreneur or Cat Burglar?

🎨🪑 “You Said You Wanted Someone Resourceful…”

There’s nothing quite like the optimism of a new hire. Fresh ideas. Eager energy. A can-do attitude.

And sometimes… a complete lack of understanding that “what’s yours is mine” does not apply to company assets.

Let me tell you about Trevor (names changed to protect the bold).

Trevor moved into staff accommodations the day he was hired. By week two, everyone was impressed by how much he was getting done—he seemed busy, energetic, always carrying something. Tools, paint, random lumber…

Turns out, Trevor was busy. Just not with the job we hired him to do.

Apparently, he looked around at the unused building materials and thought, “Opportunity knocks!” He began quietly stockpiling supplies. Paint, wood, brackets, even a company drill. All of it made its way to his staff room, which slowly transformed into a bizarre hybrid of a tiny house and an art installation. Think: pallet wood throne, floating shelves shaped like ducks, and a lovingly handcrafted… bean can chandelier.

But Trevor didn’t stop there. Oh no.

He decided to share his talents with the world. He posted his “collection” to the local online marketplace, using the company vehicle to deliver his… let’s call them “interpretive furnishings.”

HR found out when someone forwarded a listing titled:
🪑 “Handmade Meditation Chair – Reclaimed materials, possibly cursed.”

When confronted, Trevor was confused.

“But I was being entrepreneurial,” he said, standing next to a coffee table made out of old paint cans and what appeared to be one of the company’s ladders.

Ultimately, Trevor’s employment was… curtailed.
And he still doesn’t quite understand why.
(Though his latest listing—“Gently Used Career, Open to Offers”—is gaining traction.)

Moral of the story?
✔️ Initiative is great.
✔️ Creativity is welcome.
🚫 Theft is… still theft.

There’s a fine line between innovation and inventory shrinkage—and this is why clear policies, onboarding, and perhaps a little common sense (or coaching) can go a long way.