And now, the exciting results of Corporate Obfuscation...
Tale #1: <Position> of Special Projects is the holding pen for the next executive about to be catapulted.
Oh, so true! I wish I could craft fiction this bizarrely plausible.
Shortly after the marketing organization (except Ray) was moved, Ray walked into our office and asked my coworker, perhaps the greatest influence on my sardonicism, what he was doing. I wasn't paying attention to how Christopher responded, but I heard "What do you do here, Ray?" There was one of those scratched record sounds, some silence, then Ray threw his golf club and stormed out of the office. (He later apologized to Christopher, and I'm pretty sure they went golfing.)
Ray ended up at another startup in a VP of Marketing role.
Tale #2: VP of Sales fired for exceeding his quota, not getting along with the CEO.
Trueamundo.
The CEO understimated the damage control he'd need to do. Instead of going back to skiing, he spent the rest of the day calling everyone in the company -- it was a small company -- spinning this as a good thing.
Dennis' replacement was a dolt. I could have put up with this had she not dorked me over (the subject of a future "Which of these situations is real?" entry). I left the company, but in 20/20 retrospect, wish I had stuck it out because I could have retired before 40.
Tale #3: No budget and a bungee boss
True!
This company will be the source for my upcoming book, "Signs That Your Company Is Doomed." The company is no longer in business, having destroyed over $2 billion in market capitalization. It sold off its intellectual property and Herman Miller chairs to a competitor.
Congratulations to Mr. Leahy, who surmised they were all true. If anyone has other weird stories to pass on, please let me know.
Tale #1: <Position> of Special Projects is the holding pen for the next executive about to be catapulted.
Oh, so true! I wish I could craft fiction this bizarrely plausible.
Shortly after the marketing organization (except Ray) was moved, Ray walked into our office and asked my coworker, perhaps the greatest influence on my sardonicism, what he was doing. I wasn't paying attention to how Christopher responded, but I heard "What do you do here, Ray?" There was one of those scratched record sounds, some silence, then Ray threw his golf club and stormed out of the office. (He later apologized to Christopher, and I'm pretty sure they went golfing.)
Ray ended up at another startup in a VP of Marketing role.
Tale #2: VP of Sales fired for exceeding his quota, not getting along with the CEO.
Trueamundo.
The CEO understimated the damage control he'd need to do. Instead of going back to skiing, he spent the rest of the day calling everyone in the company -- it was a small company -- spinning this as a good thing.
Dennis' replacement was a dolt. I could have put up with this had she not dorked me over (the subject of a future "Which of these situations is real?" entry). I left the company, but in 20/20 retrospect, wish I had stuck it out because I could have retired before 40.
Tale #3: No budget and a bungee boss
True!
This company will be the source for my upcoming book, "Signs That Your Company Is Doomed." The company is no longer in business, having destroyed over $2 billion in market capitalization. It sold off its intellectual property and Herman Miller chairs to a competitor.
Congratulations to Mr. Leahy, who surmised they were all true. If anyone has other weird stories to pass on, please let me know.
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