Remodelling #6

This is just something I felt like writing. I've had another character that I've had sitting in on one of these "your job is important" meetings but I thought I'd try to write it from a different vantage point.

Remodelling

Here we are. In another meeting in the same place as last year. The audience sitting and waiting to hear my voice; a voice of reassurance, and progressiveness that will ease posture and lighten hearts. That's all everyone wants in the end when they come to inductions like this, to feel they've made the right choice.

Sitting on the side listening to colleagues talk about sales research, new technology and the day-to-day, the faces are all looking at me. It's fair, they should be. I make the calls.

After an applause, I straighten my blazer and step into the middle of the floor looking over everyone sitting in chairs and the round tables scattered around the room. Most of the faces smiled back at me, but some had crossed their arms. I clapped my hands together and started.

"We've come a long way from last year." the audience nodded along, "There have been changes and I'd like to think all of you are responsible for them. We're making great strides in the right direction, but we have barely touched the surface. Competitors and senior employees, who aren't here for a reason, are holding back our results.

"The turmoil that our company was in one year ago was due to the shareholders running the corner offices and having no qualifications to do so. That's why I look to you, the new crop, to make changes and move upward with this company to snuff out what management books classify as 'don'ts' and move Thompson out of survival mode. What I'm asking is that we rip off the side of a skyscraper. No one has ever done this before, but it's what needs to be done. And if the whole thing falls down, I'd say it's meant to be." I wasn't thirsty, but I had a drink to pause and gauge how the audience was digesting the idea. "With that, we can't hate where we work, but we can't be proud of it either. Every day will get a little better because we'll be making changes. Old systems will be upgraded, secretaries won't have to make meetings in company approved notebooks. That was the first thing I wanted to change." I said smiling with the young suits.

I looked to the side where all the speakers were sitting, hardly swaying with the audience. I felt I could trust them with my plan but only time will tell. Karen, who had spoken about sales research before me, was smart. She enjoyed the challenge of working here but I don't think she would appreciate going home earlier more often. Saif was new like me and full of ideas. Oddly enough, he had a very good poker face today.  Finally, leaning back in his chair was my partner Gilbert Dawes, he didn't ask what I was going to say today while we had our morning coffee. He just smiled at me when I glanced over my shoulder.

The Leafs

Honestly, I don't know what's going on. I've just been catching the second half of games but even when the Leafs score first we still get bounced around and lose the game. It's probably dwelling on past mistakes which opened the door for more mistakes: an example being the Dallas game. At least Marner's on a roll. I was listening to the Bob McKenzie podcast and he said there were whistleblowers saying Kevin Shattenkirk could get traded to the Leafs. If I wanted to vomit I'd keep thinking about that "good idea." I'm happy with the squad as is and with so many budding rookies on the team this year it'd be hard to argue a trade like that because they've already passed my expectations.

That Boston game was a barn burner. A tap of the stick to Matt Martin for sticking up for Auston and taking one in the ear and another in the jaw. I don't know where Gauthier went but I think Smith is a downgrade in regards to physicality and Gauthier will probably going to be in that role next year, so he should get some practice in now.