The Failed Pitch

by Mark Johnson

Toby Albertson typed feverishly, concluding some final editing on the Power Point file that he was supposed to have ready for the big presentation. It had been years in the making, and it would all come down to this. As final copies were printed, it was off to the conference room to meet with his boss and President of PTR Software and Communications, Randall Uken.

“Are you ready for this?” asked Randall. He was straightening his tie and checking his teeth in a window. “All you have to do is help with the procedure of the meeting. I’ll do all the heavy lifting.”

This came as some assurance to Toby, although he could add to the presentation if called on. After all, he had been the point man on this project since joining the company a few years ago. But he had absolutely no experience in dealing with the Board of Directors. And Randall had made a career out of such pageantry. So Toby was happy to defer.

“Just remember, kid, we owe this project to you, and you are a super-star in this company. But not everybody is a closer.”

Toby smiled and accepted the compliment, no matter how it was worded. He had poured a lot of himself into this effort and sacrificed other opportunities along the way to put his personal stamp on the company’s largest development to date. It was nice for Randall to finally mention he had noticed. And even better that he had asked him to attend his presentation.

“Well, time to step out of the bullpen and get in the game.” Randall opened the door to the conference room and stepped in. His swagger carried him through the room, and he began immediately to schmooze the board members with his small talk. That was how he had climbed the corporate ladder. He was bright enough to trudge into a power play, yet slick enough not to get stuck.

“Ok, alright, let’s get started.” Merlin Bassett, Chairman of the Board, sounded like a judge trying to restore order in his court. “I see you brought your assistant with you today, Randall. I thought we would hear only from you today?”

“Why, yes, this is Toby Gunderson—”

“Uh, sir, it’s Albertson,” Toby interrupted.

“Of course it is. Well, anyway,” Randall continued “let me tell you folks he is going to be a real Rainmaker here at PTR and has been a real asset. He is something of an authority on what you are about to hear.”

“I know that is what you are prepared to present today, Randall,” said Chairman Bassett, “but there has been a change of plans.”

“I’m not sure I follow,” Randall said nervously as he fiddled with his designer cufflinks.

“The board met earlier today. We took a vote, and we have no confidence in your leadership going forward. Your office is in the process of being packed for you, and you will be escorted out of the building. You will get a nice severance package and a letter of recommendation to help you as you go on with life.”

Randall stood there, stunned. Him? Fired? He looked more surprised that he didn’t see this coming than upset over it actually happening. This just couldn’t come down on Randall Uken. He took pride in being ahead of the curve when it came to management longevity. Toby moved over to the opposite wall, as if it were a corporate foxhole offering make-shift protection from the line of fire.

“Thank you for your time,” Merlin gruffly stated as he pressed the intercom button on the phone in front of him. “Security!”

Randall was briskly escorted out of the room.

“I’m sorry you had to be a part of that Toby,” Merlin said after a long pause. “It was just time to go another direction. All of the preliminary data showed we were headed down the wrong path with this project. It would run over budget, and by the time we got it into production, the technology would be out of date. How would we explain that to Wall Street? So, as long as we have some time, why don’t you fill the Board in on your involvement with the project.”

“Well for starters, I was simply along for the ride. Randall just didn’t have time for any of my ideas,” Toby said as he casually threw the copies of the presentation into the waste basket.

##

A last word:

In Matthew 26, Jesus is betrayed by Judas, and Peter denies knowing him three times. Soon the priests will also condemn him, and the general public who lauded him with fanfare days earlier will choose a criminal over the Messiah. As people, we are easily swayed by popular opinion.

  
[-] © 2007 by Mark Johnson