Ready, Fire, Aim

I read in Time that Larry Summers resigned from Harvard for shooting his mouth off about women in science, ROTC and probably just making a bunch of professors mad.  Usually my sympathies would be with somebody like Larry as I think college professors can, in many instances, be the stupidest people on the planet.  I do not believe the phrase, "Those that can, do.  Those that can't, teach." applies to most elementary and high school teachers but would probably find a bigger  target audience among college professors. 

I said, in most cases, I would side with the likes of Larry except I've seen Larry in action.  Sitting in my office I thought I had dodged a bullet by sending one of my managers to some finance meeting in Washington that I didn't want to attend.  I equate Washington with taxes and thus have an aversion to the place.  I also agree with Bismarck that there are two things one should not see being made--sausages and politics.  And since we were gearing up for an takeover battle I didn't think the timing was right for a sidetrip to Washington.  My boss thought differently and he, being the boss, prevailed and I was soon on my way.

Got to wherever I was supposed to be and the buzz was that Larry Summers (this is the Clinton administration and Larry was Treasury secretary) was going to give a talk to a select group.  Figured no way I was in the select group but I had not figured on the pull of  Big Oil and I was selected to be part of the select group.  Sitting in the select group of twenty (which looked pretty ordinary to me) I chatted with my other selectees and waited.  Prince Larry appeared fifteen minutes late, walked to the podium, leaned against it with his left elbow, ran his hand through his shaggish hair and started pontificating. 

I have no memory of what he said or what he talked about but I do remember the way he talked.  Off the cuff and rambling.  Really rambling.  Rambling enough to wonder if this guy was on drugs.  Being part of the Clinton administration the thought did cross my mind.  Naming names with a little gossip thrown in.  All I thought was this guy does not have a filter.

He finished whatever he was talking about and took a few questions.  High ranked public officals are like rock stars to some people but I was not impressed.  Not that I'm smarter than Larry Summers but I worked harder because I was taught that when you present, you present it in a way and manner so the audience learns something.  And you do your homework.  I don't think Larry did his homework and believe the reason he got canned at Harvard was for speaking without a filter and not doing his homework.

In your career you will make presentations.  I don't like presentations and I am not good at them naturally.  But I learned to do them and I learned from one very senior officer.  In my first year at Quaker Oats I was drafted to be a host for the annual meeting.  Well, not a host really, more like a page, carrying around a microphone for shareholders to ask questions.  But I was fairly close to the stage and the closest I had been in my short career to senior management, physically at least. 

The president got up to give the state of the corporation and I was in awe.  Standing there, totally relaxed, then gliding across the stage, never looking at the numbers on the screen behind, making small jokes and using wit, explaining each number so even the dumbest shareholder and analyst left feeling enlightened.  Casual, off the cuff, perfect.

The following week I happened to be in the senior officers area, probably delivering some report, and I ran into the president's assistant.  I gushed about the president's performance, his casualness, his wit, his spontaneity.

"He memorizes every word."  I almost didn't hear it.  What?  Yes, the president memorized every word, every gesture and practiced every day for a week prior to the event.  The assistant said, "Don't tell anyone."  And I haven't.  I will now because your job and your success is determined by your ability to present and convince your audience.

If you don't, if you don't take it seriously, if you don't practice and you don't do your homework, you will fail.  If you don't think so, just ask Larry Summers. 

Comments

[Henk]

This story is sad.
Perhaps you want to be prepared. I usually am.
But not totally, not fully, not till the end.
I am NEVER ready for every question our clients could ask. I don't want to be.
I like the challenge of facing the unknown. I trust my instincts. Perhaps I won't have the perfect solution, but I will find something acceptable !
Without preparing everything up front. Where's the game in that ?
Ok, you were better prepared, you win.
But you were working later yesterday, no ? I was drunk and having fun yesterday. Today too.
And don't think it's game over. It's just another day at the office. Nothing to worry about.