WORKPLACE FABLES THE COFFEE-FUELLED FRANTIC EXECUTIVE
Mark Price, former MD of Waitrose, shares his workplace fables – true stories from the business front line that can teach us lessons about career success
The Coffeeaddicted Executive at Think Big had a very important meeting with a prospective new client. The Executive and her team had worked for days getting the pitch just right and they knew that the client CEO had set aside just one hour with them to hear it.
On the morning of the pitch the Executive was tight on time, but she had to stop and get her regular takeaway coffee. The queue was longer than normal, and she continually checked her watch as it slowly moved. Then it was her turn.
“I’m in a hurry, I’d like a black americano please,” she told the cashier.
“Is that drink-in or takeaway?” replied the cashier. “Takeaway” “What size?” “Medium, please,” “Would you like to try our bean of the day?”
“I’ve got a very important meeting, just a normal blend please,” said the Executive, getting agitated.
“OK. Do you want an extra shot of coffee for just 50p?”
“No, thank you.”
“Do you want milk? We have whole, skimmed, semi-skimmed, goat and soya?”
“No, I said BLACK,” replied the Executive impatiently.
“Would you like any cakes or pastries?”
“No. I just want to pay,” said the Executive who could see it was now almost 9am.
“OK. Do you have a loyalty card?”
“No.”
“Would you like a loyalty card?”
“NO, I just want to pay and get out to my meeting.”
By the time she had apologised for being late and was ready to start the presentation, it was 9.14am. The Executive asked if the prospective client could stay until 10.15am. He said he had to go at 10am precisely. The Executive said she could flip over the odd thing so that he could leave on time. “I don’t want a rushed presentation and will have little time or no time for questions,” he replied. “I think we had better reschedule.” The CEO stood up to leave. He didn’t return.
Moral of the tale:
Sometimes in being stubborn about your daily routine, you miss the big picture.