(Dugald and Lynn work in a semiconductor manufacturing
company. Dugald, as the Sales Manager of the company,
is Lynn's manager, and he is on the phone to ask Lynn to
his office.)
Dugald:
Hello Lynn? Do you have a minute? I'd like to have a talk
with you, in private.
Lynn:
Sure, not a problem. I'll be in your office in a minute.
(Lynn is now in Dugald's office,
wondering what Dugald is going to talk about.)
Dugald:
Hey Lynn. How're you doing?
Lynn:
I'm pretty good, and I've made great progress with our new
clients.
Dugald:
That's good. You're always plugged
in,
aren't you. Well, let's get to the point. As we all know,
the sales has been doing fairly well over these two quarters....
and between you and me, things are also looking quite good.
And your suggestions that we may need to go
in for other sales strategies
are as well appreciated by me and by the
company. You're really a great help for the company to keep
ahead of our competitors. You're constantly ready
to propel our business forward.
That's really great, and that's also what I'm going to talk
about with you, about the way you do things.
Lynn:
Well.... I'm just doing the thing I want to do. I'm
not showing off, or trying to take away others' jobs.
Dugald:
Lynn, I'm not pointing a finger at you.
People are getting
along with you, and that's why we're very concerned
about your attitude toward your job. You've got a never-ending
schedule; always between the cell phones, the laptops, the
e-mails, the voice mails bla...bla...bla. You never leave
work at work. Your job seeps into your
private time, the time for your family and for yourself.
Lynn:
I want to keep my finger on the pulse,
so I can get ahead of my competitors and hold
my own. If I dont' jump on the
bandwagon, I definitely
will fail.
Dugald:
I agree with you, absolutely. But how about your family?
You're lucky to have two lovely kids and an understanding
wife, who backs you up all the way.
Lynn:
I know, and that's why I work so hard to make them a wealthy
life.
Dugald:
To make them a wealthy life doesn't mean to sacrifice your
time with them. Money can't buy back time. We have to keep
balance with or synchronised with our families.
Lynn:
But I would feel like a bludger if
I didn't work hard. And besides, I like the excitement climate
of my job simply by bargaining with the clients. I have
an eye for this business. You know that.
Dugald:
That's not exciting climate. That's workaholic climate
you're obsessed with. You've got a 14
annual leave days stockpiled this year. So you have to unchain yourself
from your desk, and go home to dig
out and dust off your
travel bags, then take your family for a trip. You need the
excitement of chasing your kids around, or shouting to them
not to be so naughty, though they are absolutely lovely kids....Anyway,
you need that kind of exercise to get your adrenaline pumping.
Lynn:
So....you want me to have a leave?
Dugald:
Not just a leave! I want you to have a vacation!
Lynn:
But I don't know where to go.
Dugald:
Get yourself out of the city, go to the mountains or the
beach, wherever there is no crowd, no churning cars, and
you can breathe some real fresh air. Then come back and go
on to make
a killing for yourself and of course for the company.
Lynn:
OK, understood. And thanks.
Dugald:
No worries. So have a nice trip then.