Awakening, 2nd edition by Ray N. Kuili Read Free Book Online Page A

remembers your , “That clueless admin” line. We let you have it your way back then and I still feel we shouldn’t have listened to you. But enough is enough. We still consider you the main force behind this project. Nobody takes that from you. But unless you start treating the people who work for you differently , you’re not going to run this show anymore. We’ll put somebody else in change and you will become an architect. Not a dictator.”
    Paul got to his feet and strode nervously across the room.
    “All right . . . All right . . . You have a point. It’s a—I understand . . .”
    It was obvious that he was trying to avoid saying too much.
    “This is good feedback. I’ll take care of it . . .”
    He finally stopped and looked at Steve, who’d been silently watching the jerky movements of the angular figure in front of him .
    “I’ll take care of it. Okay?”
    “Okay. But there’s more. We think that, in order to deal with this challenge , you need to become a stronger leader.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “This means that they—that we are sending you on a one-week training course that will help you to grow as a leader.”
    “A training course.” Paul ’s bitterness seemed to return . “The same kind of training course you put me through last time? This mumbling about everyone needing a special touch?”
    “No it’s not about that . It’s about becoming a true leader. And it’s not ‘mumbling.’ And by the way, everyone does need a special touch,” Steve said, noticeably irritated. “And don’t you think you’re out of line here?”
    Paul raised his hands peaceably.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. You’re right, I shouldn’t be talking to you this way. But you know where I’m coming from, right? I’ve got this whole mess to deal with and you’re telling me that I won’t be here for a week? What is this training course , anyway?”
    Steve shook his head, demonstrating a mixture of weariness and doubt.
    “To be honest, this workshop is not for you. Had it been up to me, you’d be spending this week doing something more useful. But, that wasn’t my decision.”
    “I get that. What is it about? Give me some details.”
    “I can’t. I simply don’t know much about it. Nobody does. There’re just rumors. ‘It’s something unique, nobody has ever been to it, nobody lived to tell, ’ and so on . . . There’s literally zero information. Someone at the very top, presumably Thronburg himself, came up with it. Don’t give me that look —I was told it came from him. So now they really want to send somebody over there since our competitors have already sent some of their folks on it . These people have some very strong prerequisites. In short, only those who’ve been rising up through the ranks at high velocity qualify. That’s why I don’t think it’s for you, since we hired you expecting you to do all these great things.”
    “Don’t worry. Thronburg knows best. Have you got any clue about what happens over there?”
    Steve shrugged.
    “They turn you into a leader. I haven’t the slightest idea how they do it.”
     
    Alan
     
    Alan slowly shook the large lime envelope and poured out its contents onto the desk. So it has finally happened. They ’ve noticed. They ’ve paid attention. He was slowly savoring his triumph. Four— no, five —years of hard work ha d not been in vain.
    Those heated debates he had had with Tim and Larry: “You ’ll get lost in that crowd!” Tim had yelled back then , “You ’ll become a corporate pawn! Do you know why they call people ‘corporate assets ?’ Are you dying to be an asset?”
    But Alan knew what he was doing.
    If you’re smart, if you ’re bright, if your GPA is rock solid, if you know how to make a good impression, they ’ll single you out of thousands of fresh grads and will practically beg you to come and work for them, right? Tim and Larry had no objections to that statement. But if this is true,