“I do not think I have met my expectations for this assignment, but based on the past six months it is clear my expectations for making you more effective were too high.”—my performance review July 94
This is the right time mention a personal anecdote . The year would have to be 2010, me and my wife were embarking on a personal trip from BOS to SEA. Waiting to board the same flight I noticed a familiar face in a familiar attire: sneakers, jeans, t-shirt & sweater. As we took our seats on the plane, I notice this person is sitting maybe 10 rows ahead of us. Also in cattle class. That was of course you presumably coming back from a business trip. I was super impressed you were flying just like the rest of us.
Thank you! Funny you should mention this. As the company grew it became increasingly difficult to “fight” executive privilege. A bunch of things were on “autopilot” when someone was promoted from the executive shuttle, executive travel desk, reserved conference rooms, double offices, and so on. It was a whack-a-mole to keep those things at bay. When it came to travel they put in an automatic upgrade for VPs (to be fair it was just automatic super elite status that was essentially part of the normal deal all companies make with the hub airline). The services group was just doing what they were sold, which is more a statement about how all companies work. Still, compared to the likes of Google we were paupers :)
This is the right time mention a personal anecdote . The year would have to be 2010, me and my wife were embarking on a personal trip from BOS to SEA. Waiting to board the same flight I noticed a familiar face in a familiar attire: sneakers, jeans, t-shirt & sweater. As we took our seats on the plane, I notice this person is sitting maybe 10 rows ahead of us. Also in cattle class. That was of course you presumably coming back from a business trip. I was super impressed you were flying just like the rest of us.
Thank you! Funny you should mention this. As the company grew it became increasingly difficult to “fight” executive privilege. A bunch of things were on “autopilot” when someone was promoted from the executive shuttle, executive travel desk, reserved conference rooms, double offices, and so on. It was a whack-a-mole to keep those things at bay. When it came to travel they put in an automatic upgrade for VPs (to be fair it was just automatic super elite status that was essentially part of the normal deal all companies make with the hub airline). The services group was just doing what they were sold, which is more a statement about how all companies work. Still, compared to the likes of Google we were paupers :)
Ah, the modesty and level-headedness. A pleasanr/useful example.