assignment:
He’s a consultant. Years ago I claimed an old book from my dad’s collection called Up the Organization . It’s packed with handy advice for navigating the corporate world, including a warning about consultants: They will borrow your watch just to tell you the time. Then they are likely to walk off with it too.
He’s arriving at a bad time. Henry’s already tipped me off that more layoffs and budget cuts are coming soon. When the rest of his team hears what’s going on, any shred of motivation they may have to help Judd will evaporate.
It’s my twenty-eighth day without sex. And I’m not in the best of moods.
At least I thought those were going to be Judd’s main obstacles. But when I walk into the small conference room on the twenty-sixth floor, I immediately see three more:
He’s sitting at Henry’s right hand. Henry’s in the dad seat at the head of the conference table. But Judd’s right next to him. In my usual spot.
He’s wearing suspenders. Not a good fashion choice. Not on the first day. Not when you’re the youngest person in the room. It makes people suspicious, even before you open your mouth.
He’s planning to present. The projector is set up in the middle of the table. Connected to a laptop PC. Just waiting to be powered up.
I nod in Henry’s direction and walk around the table to sit on Henry’s left, opposite Judd. Dave Douglas and Susan Trevor are already entering. Susan sits next to Judd, with Dave on her right. None of us speak. Henry only wants to go through the formalities once. Hank Sullivan arrives, then Ben Shapiro hurries in, apologizing for being late.
“Let’s wait a minute to see if Martin gets here,” says Henry. We sit in silence for thirty-five seconds more.
Susan makes a fuss of dunking her teabag several times in her milky tea before getting up to deposit the bag in the wastebasket.
“I told Jeanie to skip this meeting. She’s got a lot to prepare for the budget review this afternoon,” says Henry. A few moments later he leans close to Judd and whispers something that makes Judd nod in a serious manner. Judd is wearing cufflinks, I notice. I score that as another point against him.
Twelve more seconds tick by.
“OK,” says Henry. “Let’s get started.”
He introduces Judd. Gives a glowing overview of his academic and business credentials. Then he suggests we go around the room and each tell Judd our name and our role at the Chronicle . I start the ball rolling. As I speak, Judd draws an oblong shape on his notepad. It represents the table we’re sitting at. He writes my name near a corner of his oblong to indicate where I’m sitting.
The baton passes quickly. By now, we all have our thirty-second intros down pat. We reach Susan, who sighs and says simply, “Susan Trevor. Director of ad services.”
“Great,” says Henry. He explains that he has brought Judd in to assist him in developing a new strategic plan for the Chronicle . Judd will likely have questions for each of us, and Henry expects us to give Judd all the help he needs.
As Henry is talking, Judd goes through a discreet warm-up routine, adjusting his cuffs, clearing his throat softly, sipping from his premium-brand bottled water. I glance around the table. Hank and Dave are professionally blank, waiting to see what happens. Ben raises his eyebrows and purses his lips at me. Susan is staring at Judd with open hostility.
Henry tells us that Judd has recently completed an analysis of the newspaper industry. A white paper, if you will. It outlines the challenges facing our whole industry.
Martin enters quietly and takes his seat. Henry continues speaking, choosing to downplay the interruption.
“I thought it would be useful if Judd were to summarize his analysis and add a few initial thoughts on the specific obstacles facing the Daily Business Chronicle ,” says Henry. “Judd?”
Judd takes another sip of water, says, “Thank you, Henry,” then reaches over to power
He’s a consultant. Years ago I claimed an old book from my dad’s collection called Up the Organization . It’s packed with handy advice for navigating the corporate world, including a warning about consultants: They will borrow your watch just to tell you the time. Then they are likely to walk off with it too.
He’s arriving at a bad time. Henry’s already tipped me off that more layoffs and budget cuts are coming soon. When the rest of his team hears what’s going on, any shred of motivation they may have to help Judd will evaporate.
It’s my twenty-eighth day without sex. And I’m not in the best of moods.
At least I thought those were going to be Judd’s main obstacles. But when I walk into the small conference room on the twenty-sixth floor, I immediately see three more:
He’s sitting at Henry’s right hand. Henry’s in the dad seat at the head of the conference table. But Judd’s right next to him. In my usual spot.
He’s wearing suspenders. Not a good fashion choice. Not on the first day. Not when you’re the youngest person in the room. It makes people suspicious, even before you open your mouth.
He’s planning to present. The projector is set up in the middle of the table. Connected to a laptop PC. Just waiting to be powered up.
I nod in Henry’s direction and walk around the table to sit on Henry’s left, opposite Judd. Dave Douglas and Susan Trevor are already entering. Susan sits next to Judd, with Dave on her right. None of us speak. Henry only wants to go through the formalities once. Hank Sullivan arrives, then Ben Shapiro hurries in, apologizing for being late.
“Let’s wait a minute to see if Martin gets here,” says Henry. We sit in silence for thirty-five seconds more.
Susan makes a fuss of dunking her teabag several times in her milky tea before getting up to deposit the bag in the wastebasket.
“I told Jeanie to skip this meeting. She’s got a lot to prepare for the budget review this afternoon,” says Henry. A few moments later he leans close to Judd and whispers something that makes Judd nod in a serious manner. Judd is wearing cufflinks, I notice. I score that as another point against him.
Twelve more seconds tick by.
“OK,” says Henry. “Let’s get started.”
He introduces Judd. Gives a glowing overview of his academic and business credentials. Then he suggests we go around the room and each tell Judd our name and our role at the Chronicle . I start the ball rolling. As I speak, Judd draws an oblong shape on his notepad. It represents the table we’re sitting at. He writes my name near a corner of his oblong to indicate where I’m sitting.
The baton passes quickly. By now, we all have our thirty-second intros down pat. We reach Susan, who sighs and says simply, “Susan Trevor. Director of ad services.”
“Great,” says Henry. He explains that he has brought Judd in to assist him in developing a new strategic plan for the Chronicle . Judd will likely have questions for each of us, and Henry expects us to give Judd all the help he needs.
As Henry is talking, Judd goes through a discreet warm-up routine, adjusting his cuffs, clearing his throat softly, sipping from his premium-brand bottled water. I glance around the table. Hank and Dave are professionally blank, waiting to see what happens. Ben raises his eyebrows and purses his lips at me. Susan is staring at Judd with open hostility.
Henry tells us that Judd has recently completed an analysis of the newspaper industry. A white paper, if you will. It outlines the challenges facing our whole industry.
Martin enters quietly and takes his seat. Henry continues speaking, choosing to downplay the interruption.
“I thought it would be useful if Judd were to summarize his analysis and add a few initial thoughts on the specific obstacles facing the Daily Business Chronicle ,” says Henry. “Judd?”
Judd takes another sip of water, says, “Thank you, Henry,” then reaches over to power
Similar Books
