The Mentor, A Story of Success PDF Download

Author:
Publisher: Claude Diamond
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 111

Get Book Here

Book Description
Success is impossible! He was just sick of it all. It was another lousy Monday and here he was sitting in traffic. Ralph was already feeling drained and tired from last night's tossing and turning fiesta. How do you sleep when all you do is worry about bills and the lack of money all the time? On the radio, the announcer exclaimed that today was going to be another scorcher. It was 6:30 AM and it was already 75 degrees outside. The air conditioner was on the fritz again in the car he should have sold 4 years ago. He could have it fixed, but that would cost him $500 for a new compressor. Of course, he didn't have the money and as usual his credit cards were maxed out. He was on his way to a sales job with a company that he absolutely hated and a sales manager who he detested. He was two feet shorter than Ralph and made up for it by berating Ralph in front of the other employees, yep a classic Napoleonic Complex. He was an uninspired sales associate selling products he didn't believe in to clients who he didn't like and who didn't care much for him either. The worst part about it all was that he didn't like himself much lately because he saw no way out of this gerbil cage. The worrying about the money, the go-no- where job, the frustration of it all. He was even beginning to put on weight, something he never had to worry about in the past. When would it ever end? I've had it. I have to face the fact that I am a loser and will never amount to anything unless I do something drastic. Ralph was muttering to himself again. Lately he was doing it more and more. Ralph was 39 years old and still searching for what he perceived as his Success in the world, his real purpose. He was frustrated and carried his humiliation like Atlas carried the world on his back. Why had the financial freedom been so easy for some and just as evasive for him? He wanted the best for his family. He had worked hard all his life, followed the rules about going to school and getting a good education. Mom and Dad always said "get a good job with a good company and everything would work out just fine" but they were wrong! The trouble was that the financial freedom he yearned for was just a far off day dream. He would go to bed and wake up every morning in a cold sweat worrying about the bills. Why, his marriage was even suffering from the stress. He couldn't even remember the last time he and Emily talked about anything that was fun or laughed together and they never made love anymore. All they ever did was argue about money. The kids needed new clothes for school, the final notice was sent from the cable company before they shut off the connection. There was never enough money for this or that. Success remained as illusive as ever and he was always feeling depressed and drained. The money dilemma was causing an anger to slowly build up and burn inside him. He found that he was so damned tired all the time. Emily and the kids started to notice his malaise and kept out of his way. He couldn't really blame them since he always came home grouchy from work. Even Saturday morning when the kids were playing and laughing together outside it was too loud for him. He needed to get away sometimes. A horn blast awoke him from his daydream and he instinctively hit the brakes causing them to squeal. It was another fender bender on the freeway that he narrowly avoided in front of him. That would have just been the finishing touch to an already crummy beginning. The traffic was at a gridlock standstill and he knew he would be late for work again. 45 minutes later Ralph pulled into the huge office parking lot and joined the masses already in the lobby of the modern office building where he worked. He entered the crowded elevator with all the other workers or 'ants' as he called them, as the high speed lift brought him to the 42nd floor. The blood was rushing to his head as Beth, his secretary came running over. Mr. Smutty is ready to throw a fit, Ralph. You didn't finish your sales reports and the new Boston head chewed him a new rear digestive system for not keeping control of his staff and keeping up the paperwork. Be warned, he is out for your head. Ralph knew all about the sales reports and he let them sit on his desk at home for over five weeks. He just couldn't bring himself to sit down and do the silly busywork his company required. It was just so boring and useless in his mind. The company required moronic itemized accounts of how he spent his day as though they really placed some value on the ridiculous scraps of paper. He knew that the other sales staff considered the daily, weekly and monthly sales reports and projections an absolute waste of time, but no one would ever stand up to Smutty. He decided to forego the daily tirade of Smutty and sneak out to the local coffee house for his double french roast mocha espresso. The moment the doors opened he heard the bellowing of Smutty, Ralph, hold on there! Where are you going mister? he sneered. I need those reports on my desk by 10:00 AM or you can plan to find alternative employment. Smutty always liked to create a spectacle in front of the staff and threaten someone with their job. He relished belittling others. Ralph grunted something unintelligible and acknowledged that the work would get done. He slowly trudged back to his Dilbert cubicle while grabbing a cup of really bad coffee from the dirty office coffee pot. He then began to work on the ordered paperwork. Two hours later he completed the job and not a moment too soon as Jeff Smutty charged in. Well I see our Mr. Mocha has finally finished. Listen Mister, you had better shape up if you want to hang around here. You placed me in hot water with the big boys and I don't need this kind of aggravation, besides you were 45 minutes late for work this morning, too. You're just a loser, a bum, a slacker. You will never amount to anything. Why on earth does the company hire people like you? Ralph knew that there was a ring of truth to what Smutty was saying and yet there were still some small embers of long forgotten pride that would not tolerate someone treating him this way in front of his peers. This however, was the last straw for Ralph and all he could see now was the color red. All the frustration, the pain, the car, the wife and kids, the money problems were exploding within him. He had no self control left and the words from his pent up anger poured from his brain to his mouth without restraint. Going nose to nose with Smutty, Ralph began yelling, I'll tell you Smutty, I am so sick and tired of working my tail off for jerks like you and this crummy company. Some of the office staff were beginning to gather and listen to the fight like gawkers at a roadside traffic accident. You think for the below poverty level wages that I get from you guys I deserve this crap. On top of it, you want me to be kissing your butt like a newborn baby. Well I have a life planned and this is not how I envisioned it; working for a low end firm that sells overpriced junk and I sure as hell don't have to put up with a moronic obnoxious midget like you! Smutty was beginning to turn pale, Ralph had taken his berating before without any reaction. He knew that this time he had gone too far and was beginning to get scared. Now look here Arrens, there is no need for this type of language, let's just go to my office and discuss this matter. Jeez, Jeffrey don't you get it? I am sick to death of you, this company and just about everything related to this job including your garbage coffee. Ralph picked up the coffee cup and threw its contents at the wall where the company logo was prominently displayed. Hey Smutty, do you like Country music? Jeffrey nodded his head quizzically. Well let me share a line with you from a little tune, "Take this job and shove it, I ain't working here no more!" Ralph grabbed his jacket and Smutty made a last attempt to assert himself by blocking Ralph's exit. Ralph grasped Smutty's cheap suit lapels and shoved Smutty against the wall with a thud. The framed motivational saying "let's work together" dropped to the floor and the glass cover shattered into little shards all over the room! Smutty didn't even budge. He was so scared standing there with his mouth wide open. Ralph knew he had gone too far that day. Ralph, how dare you destroy company property! It will come out of your pay! Smutty exclaimed. Well as long as you're making deductions from the pittance you call my pay, you had better charge me for what I am going to do next. As a final Coup de Grace, Ralph grabbed the giant water cooler bottle from its dispenser and walked in the direction of Smutty's desk. Water was splashing everywhere. He entered Smutty's office and emptied the liquid contents onto Smutty's desk. Smutty's beloved sales reports were soaked. He even opened Smutty's desk draws and then the filing cabinets and made sure they were saturated, too. Looking with satisfaction at the desk he decided to flip it over. Ralph knew what he was doing was wrong, but right now he felt great! Ralph turned around and saw that Smutty was glancing at the company's main frame computer in the office. He heard Smutty scream, NO, Ralph, NO! Ralph loved it! The remaining contents of the water bottle totally drenched the internal circuitry of the machine that contained all the company's important information and rendered it useless. It made a sizzling sound and then began to smoke. The group of employees couldn't stand by anymore without reacting and there was boisterous cheering and a round of applause for Ralph. All right Ralph, someone yelled. My Hero, a secretary hollered. They loved the thrashing and the resulting embarrassment their boss was encountering. None of them would ever have the guts to act the same way. They needed their jobs no matter how bad it was, but they relished the fact that someone was acting out their fantasy and really giving it to the world's worst boss, Jeff Smutty. Smutty had given all of them the same treatment that Ralph had received today, but no one ever reacted like this. The office was in complete chaos. Ralph heard the faintest whimper from his former boss as he proceeded to the the elevator. He turned ever so slowly around to glance at Smutty and the entire office staff. Ralph gave the perfunctory middle finger with a sinister smile and exclaimed, Have a nice day, Jeff. Smutty attempted to regain some presence in front of his staff and was yelling now about how he would get the police and would make Ralph pay for all the damage. Ralph didn't hear a word, he was already long gone.