Let’s Begin At the End

It was a move he was not expecting. When it was proposed he didn’t warm up to it easily. He had to be coaxed and cajoled with a carrot or two, by the CEO himself. A substantial hike, and frequent home trips, on the company account. He gave in, reluctantly, and agreed to the change of role, and place. 

He was forewarned about the difficulties.  That there was enough baggage from the past that needed to be offloaded. That the important clients (read, moneybags) had issued an ultimatum - to either pull up socks and deliver or face an exit from the lucrative contract. It wasn’t an option for his firm to lose on a big client, and all the profits that accrued from the business. As it had been in the past, he was chosen because the bosses thought he knew how to untangle the mess. 

After difficult meetings with the clients, where all their egos had to be suitably massaged, and every praise imaginable had been made about their benevolence, he went about learning what needed to be done. He listed out the software code changes to be made, redrew responsibilities, estimated new expenditure, and conveyed updates to the senior management. 

As he waited for approval of new budgets and replacements, he  remembered the legend of Hercules cleaning the Augean stables. In his case though, it wasn’t the first time; he smiled morosely fearing it might not be the last time either. 

                                    *************

It is two years from then. He has delivered on the objectives, and the firm has recalled him to the HQ. The position he would be occupying suits him too, a surprise as he wasn’t expecting to be offered that role. As he prepares to head back he wonders if he should instead have hung up his boots at the firm, and chosen a new path. 

#talltales

#shorts

#tinytales