Cutie pie, said Barb when he first introduced them to each other at the company party. And that he was—a cutie pie. As cute and charismatic as they come. Women melted in his presence. Tall, well built, with this open and trustworthy face, confident and energetic, with that toothpaste commercial kind of smile … He could’ve had a great success as a model. But it wasn’t Chris’s charm power alone that attracted Summers’s attention when he was looking for his own right hand man. After all, there wasn’t a shortage of cutie pies to be found in the right circles in the company. And at least half of them were able to put on a nice show like the one Chris was running now. But most cutie pies lacked an invaluable asset that Chris had. Brains. Sharp, pragmatic brains not clogged by dogmas and respect for authorities.
I’m not ambitious. I just want the world to drop dead at the sight of my awesomeness, that’s all.
‘Had this Nick,’ Michael lifted the book, “somehow gotten into your company he would’ve became your CEO in a blink of an eye. Or even better, a trusted advisor to your CEO. Same for my company.”
He opened the book on a random page and read in a sing-song voice:
“ … And the first opinion which one forms of a prince, and of his understanding, is by observing the men he has around him; and when they are capable and faithful he may always be considered wise, because he has known how to recognize the capable and to keep them faithful …”
He put the book down and smiled at Joan.
“Now try and recall what you thought of your management last time they promoted yet another moron. Or when they didn’t promote you.
He opened the book on a random page and read in a sing-song voice:
“ … And the first opinion which one forms of a prince, and of his understanding, is by observing the men he has around him; and when they are capable and faithful he may always be considered wise, because he has known how to recognize the capable and to keep them faithful …”
He put the book down and smiled at Joan.
“Now try and recall what you thought of your management last time they promoted yet another moron. Or when they didn’t promote you.
Do you know what it really means, the place at the very top of a pyramid? Do you have any idea? The pyramid’s vertex is not just another step up. It’s the step up. It’s the ultimate prize that only some dare to dream about and even fewer get their hands on. It’s worth all other steps combined. It’s the single thing that makes existence of the pyramid possible. Foundational bricks can be replaced. Middle layers—ah, the middle layers—they are even more replaceable than the countless bricks, although of course we don’t want them to know this. But the vertex is a different story. It gives everyone sense of purpose. It makes them believe that someone truly cares. It doesn’t just crown the pyramid—it is the thing that holds it together.
