So. Interesting background you have

here, Mr. Daniel.

Thanks.

We’ll have to give some thought to how you might fit in with us.

Um. Sure. Sounds good.

Yeah, right.

This guy has zero task-specific experience!

He’s in his forties with kids. He’s gonna want a

decent salary.

Okay, say he actually issuper-smart, has great judgment and people skills, and superior follow-through...

He’s still a crap shoot.

The economy’s in a tailspin.

No way do we take a chance on him.

Mr. Daniel, we’ll have to get back to you.

That’s fine, but...

You might consider...

Somebody with skills and a

background like mine doesn’t

come along every day...

Like…never.

Well, since we’re being honest...

Frankly, Mr. Daniel, your background seems a bit…”frou-frou” for

business.

Is it?

You ever written a novel?

I’m six, Mr. Daniel.

Well, I’m sure you could if you didn’t

have to go to school and run a business.

My point is…

Some pretty mad skills are on display there…

Idea generation, obviously. You have to respond to “inside

the box” reader expectations with “outside the box”

solutions.

If you don’t, you lose all

competitive advantage right

off the bat…

But it doesn’t stop there...

Go on. I’m listening.

You have to think supremely strategically…

You should see some of my outlines...

You have to generate an enormous plan, exacting to the

smallest detail, then execute it with precision and imagination.

But it doesn’t stop there...

You have to adapt on the fly…

But always keep the overall purpose of the project in mind

at all times...

The larger themes and individual

execution must match up…

Or you’ve got a mess on your hands instead of a novel.

Sound familiar?

Somewhat.

There’s more. Believe it or not, there’s a strong

social and management aspect to writing a novel.

You must accept and incorporate

feedback up and down the line.

Your copy editor and proof reader have to

be respected.

And your editor’s input must be incorporated.

And then, after the whole thing is

published and out there…

You must maintain great relationships with your readers if

you ever expect them to read

anything else you write.

Okay.

Granted the analogy to successful management and business execution

is a strong one…

You still don’t have specific experience in

our industry.

I guess that’s going to be where your imagination and trust comes in.

But you might consider…

Another ability a novelist needs is

the ability to absorb information

like a sponge...

And to put it to immediate and

effective use within an overall plan…

He must successfully adapt.

Constantly.

So…

The question is really whether you need

somebody as effective as I can

be.

Or are you doing so well you don’t need any more amazing,

singular assets like me to ensure your

competitive advantage?

You’ve certainly got the chutzpah going for you.

I’ll give you that.

My is e-mail is darkestcoffee at

gmail.

It’s not all talk, kiddo.

But it’s your call in the end.