"John, would you please step into my office when you have a minute?" my new boss, Julie, asks me over the phone even though her office is just a few doors down from mine. Uh, oh, I think. This isn't going to be good. I'm already behind with my regular workload, I've been jumping through hoops to bring her up to speed and now she's got a new request that is going to keep me here for who knows how long tonight. This always happens when there's a new boss. Days wasted going over the same material, answering basic questions and not being able to move the company forward. Come compensation time, no one will remember the time and energy I spent making her seem intelligent. And of course her ego will minimize all of my efforts and then, in hindsight, she'll honestly believe that I had nothing to do with her success. I've seen it all before. Meanwhile, my wife isn't going to be happy. I've already missed way too many dinners and the kids have forgotten what I look like. Maybe it really is time to think about a new career. Wouldn't it be nice to be my own boss?!
I walk down the hall and approach her office. I notice that she's in the middle of writing an email. Great, I think, another power play. She just called me down and now she's going to have me just linger in the hallway while she finishes something else that she's working on. Wow, she's so important. Am I supposed to be impressed at how efficient she is with her time? Well, I'm not. I'm really just pissed. I look like her little puppet waiting in the hall waiting for her to call me in when she's ready. The only good side is that she is quite pleasant to look at. I don't know for sure, but she must be late thirties, early forties. She has that sexy, professional business woman look that says, I'm smart, I know it and don't even think about messing with me. She's wearing a light green business suit with a white top. The top of the suit is hanging over the chair and she's showing just a hint of cleavage that says "I dare you to look."
She typing the last few words and without even saying a word, she motions for me to come in. As I start to walk in she says "John, please close the door, would you?" I wonder what this is all about. Top secret project? Maybe, but unlikely. I'm not being fired, no one from HR is here. I wonder what it could be.
"Have a seat John," Julie motions to the chair and takes off her glasses.
I take the seat and wonder out loud, "What's up, Julie?"
"Well, John, we have a little situation."
I blurt out , "A situation? What do you mean?"
"John, when you sign into your computer each morning, do you read the little blurb that pops up?"
Not really, I think to myself. But I do know that it talks about improper use of the computer equipment or something like that. I'm not sure I like where this is going.