Every employee in this brokerage firm wanted to know how Andy Parker became the regional manager for this firm. Andy looked like an ordinary guy, barely 40 years old, had brought so much profit to this company. During lunch, he would join his employees, sharing information and discussing about the future of the company. His colleague, Tim, was a good friend of his and had been with him in the same firm before Andy became the regional manager.
One day at lunch, one of the employees of the firm asked Peter what it took for Andy to become the regional manager. Tim swallowed the last bite of the salmon sandwich, and drank the remaining water. He said, “It was his ‘rudeness’ that made him the regional manager.” The employee was puzzled, “His rudeness? How could it possibly get his job by being rude? You were joking, right?” Tim laughed and replied, “Nope, indeed, for being ‘rude’. Alright then, I will tell you how that happened.”
It was two years ago, a week before the former regional manager Charles Anderson was about to retire. Charles was a legendary figure. Since he was the regional manager, the value of the company had never dropped down. But the week before he was going to retire, he announced a piece of news that no one was going to believe. He was going to pay 10 million dollars to purchase a type of stock which everyone knew that the stock would bring no profits in a week. What was more ridiculous was that he told everyone publicly that if anyone told Charles that the purchasing was a bad decision, that guy would be fired. He said it, and he would do it. It brought a heated discussion among the employees. People wondered if Charles was out of his mind. Who would buy a stock when everyone could see the decreasing value of it? But pretty quickly, people let it go because they didn’t want to get fired, besides they said Charles was the “legendary one”, and he knew what he was doing. Only Andy, who had serious doubt about that stock, analyzed every detail of it and made a report. Yes, he was going to tell how wrong Charles was. On the fourth day of the week, Andy carried his pile of report, when he was about to knock on Charles door, he stopped for literally 20 minutes in front of Charles office. Thoughts about losing his job made him really uncomfortable. He really enjoyed working in this firm. That’s why he had to warn Charles that the purchase might seriously hurt this company. Conflicts went through his mind and maybe that was the reason that made him lost control of his next action.
Andy slammed on Charles’s door and yelled that Charles would regret about the purchase. Everyone else nearby stood up from their desks and stared at Andy, believing that Andy had no hope of working again in this company. Few seconds later, Charles opened the door and said only three words, “Please come in.” Andy went in, and explained that he was sorry to be so rude, because he really concerned about this company. Then Andy showed Charles the report he made on that stock. Andy said, “Look, I don’t mind getting fired. But I don’t want this company to collapse because of the mistake you are going to make. I don’t want to see my friends in this company to lose their jobs too. But please read my report. I believe you will know what you are doing is wrong.” Charles put aside the report and smiled, “I don’t need to read your report and know the purchasing was a loser’s decision.” Andy was confused, “You do? Then why did you still announce that purchase you are going to make?” Charles pointed at the chair and told Andy to sit down, and he drank some coffee, continuing on his explanation, “You see, it was just a test that I made to see who would have the potential to become the next regional manager of this firm. Looks like you are doing a great job, Andy.” Andy was still baffled by what Charles said. Charles then asked Andy some basic questions, “What kind of company is this?” Andy replied without any hesitation, “It is a brokerage firm.” Charles then said, “Correct. We buy and sell off stocks based on facts, not opinions of anyone, even authorities. As members of this firm, we shall work together to keep this firm alive. If they think they can save their jobs by not pointing out a simplest mistake their colleagues make, they will lose it pretty quickly as well. Andy, you have the kind of spirit that I am searching for.”
Tim wrapped up his lunch box and said to the employee, “Now you should know why he’s the regional manager.”
-written by Jack Wei
