At first glance, this appears to be an article about the husband of a couple who lived next door. The real meaning, however, is intended to be a lesson to our children during the ages of between 18 and 23, or thereabouts, when they are considering careers in any number of pursuits. It contains “lessons” about what will assist their endeavors and what will ruin them.
Let’s call my friend “Mike.” He worked for a large corporation in sales and dreamed of moving up into the executive ranks in the near future. His wife was attractive, smart and an effective conversationalist. Mike was educated, well spoken, good looking, and athletic. What more could this couple ask for? Let’s find out.
I was practicing law in those days with a large corporate firm, and our clients were some of the most powerful companies in the region. I took it upon myself to introduce Mike to some of them in the hopes of providing him with future employment opportunities, if he chose that path. Here’s how one of those interviews unfolded.
Mike entered the executive’s large, comfortable office with extraordinary views of the city and sat in one of the chairs facing the executive’s chair. Mike ”fell” or flopped into the chair and, instead of bringing his body to sit up straight, he slumped into the chair to begin the interview. A few minutes into the meeting, Mike crossed his legs, first one way and then the other. Thereafter, he must have run low on energy because he not only yawned but he failed to cover his mouth and didn’t hesitate to display his tonsils for all to see. Quite a set! During the balance of the get together, Mike not only listened politely most of the time but also would cut a joke about something in the conversation which was not completely appropriate or appreciated by his host. When his energy waned completely, Mike appeared to lose interest in the purpose of the meeting and at times gazed out the windows and towards the brilliant afternoon sky. As the meeting concluded and we were walking towards the elevators, I could only imagine what was pouring through the host’s mind. “Let’s see, if I take Mike to lunch or dinner with a large client he will slouch in his chair, push his chair back so he can cross his legs, be obviously unable to recognize what utensils to use at various times during the meal, yawn for all to appreciate his dental work, and joke about things he doesn’t understand. Is this the type of employee I want to present to a valued client, or even a good friend?” Needless to say, Mike did not receive an offer of employment from that company.
The lessons are apparent, but the unfortunate reality of the situation is that no one, not his parents or his friends, ever taught Mike the necessity of respecting people he would be introduced to in life whose acceptance of him and his personality might be instrumental in achieving an executive position he might choose to seek following completion of his formal education. These failings in personal conduct might well relegate the Mike’s of the world to a dark computer room where the occupants never achieve an invitation to a partner’s lunch at a restaurant or to a dinner at his or her home. Without those invitations, career growth will likely be absent or at least less than desired.
This is a true story, but as I indicated at the top my reason for repeating it is in the hopes that our younger, professional-aiming readers will do everything in their power to avoid emulating “Mike” and conduct themselves with the dignity and class that compels his superiors to continue to elevate his professional position until he is one of them. Good Luck!