no!” I waved my hands. “I’m sorry. I want you to give the presentation at ten. You did really fantastic work here. I want management to see it. But if they do, they’ll start watching you, and you’ll be promoted in no time. That means I will need a new assistant and I hate interviewing and I kept a horrible assistant around for far too long because I’m no good at hiring, except for you of course.”
Olivia shook her head. “No. I don’t want to give the presentation. I’m no good at that. Doing the work, I’m good at. Please. I don’t want a promotion. I just want this job.”
“Olivia.”
“No, please. I’m begging you. I don’t want your job. I’ve been through a lot and…”
“It’s okay. Stop stressing! My intentions were to do something nice for you. I’m so sorry I stressed you out, your work is just so impressive.” My good intentions were making me feel horrible. The look on Olivia’s face was one of horror.
“Thank you. I’m sorry I freaked. Some people are really good in the forefront, but some of us like to be in the background. I’m really good support staff, but I’m no good at leading and I don’t want to.”
“Okay,” I grinned, “get out. I have to get ready. The meeting is in ten minutes so since I need to give the presentation, I have to get my shit together.” I winked playfully at her. “But you’re going with me as support.”
“Deal!” She couldn’t get out of my office fast enough.
I shook the horrible feeling, gave a dynamic presentation the client loved, as did management. Olivia looked like a proud mother sitting on the edge of her seat watching me.
Olivia and I went to lunch together around one.
“I was thinking about what you said,” Olivia said as she picked at her salad. “I don’t’ want to be out front but if I can do the work, you can take more clients. If you earn more, I’ll earn more. Right?”
“Yes, you get your salary, plus ten percent of whatever I make.”
“So if I double what you make, I double what I make. You wanted to give me a promotion and I know how stupid it is to pass up money, I’m just completely serious about not wanting to be out front.” She still looked nervous.
“First of all, please stop being nervous. I’m very happy with the work you’re doing. I don’t want you to go anywhere.” I took a sip of my coke. “But if we’re going to do this, we need to take a plan of action. First, you’ll need to sit in on my meetings so you get a feeling for the client. If I start increasing my clientele like you think I will, then I will negotiate for your percentage to increase from ten. You should get more than ten percent if you’re doing the work. And you can’t leave. You’re stuck with me for life.” I teased.
“Deal!” She raised her plastic coke cup to toast. We tapped glasses. “I’m excited!”
“Me too. My first appointment for today, she has a huge budget and if what she says is true, she’s made a miracle product.” I filled Olivia in on the details.
The rest of the day went smoothly with Olivia sitting in on appointments and the two of us dividing the work.
AWKWARD GROUP
Tuesday went just as smoothly. I used the beauty products Trina had left and I loved them. It was going to be easy to promote her product.
Wednesday I began to get nervous. It was another group appointment with Linda. I already scheduled myself to leave the office early so that I could go home, shower and change. With Olivia taking on some of my work, it really freed up my time. Because I knew I’d be nervous, I blocked the day out simply to work on campaigns.
I did a mock-up for Trina. Great ideas were flooding in, having a day with no interruptions. Being able to focus on her project gave me a much needed distraction from my
Olivia shook her head. “No. I don’t want to give the presentation. I’m no good at that. Doing the work, I’m good at. Please. I don’t want a promotion. I just want this job.”
“Olivia.”
“No, please. I’m begging you. I don’t want your job. I’ve been through a lot and…”
“It’s okay. Stop stressing! My intentions were to do something nice for you. I’m so sorry I stressed you out, your work is just so impressive.” My good intentions were making me feel horrible. The look on Olivia’s face was one of horror.
“Thank you. I’m sorry I freaked. Some people are really good in the forefront, but some of us like to be in the background. I’m really good support staff, but I’m no good at leading and I don’t want to.”
“Okay,” I grinned, “get out. I have to get ready. The meeting is in ten minutes so since I need to give the presentation, I have to get my shit together.” I winked playfully at her. “But you’re going with me as support.”
“Deal!” She couldn’t get out of my office fast enough.
I shook the horrible feeling, gave a dynamic presentation the client loved, as did management. Olivia looked like a proud mother sitting on the edge of her seat watching me.
Olivia and I went to lunch together around one.
“I was thinking about what you said,” Olivia said as she picked at her salad. “I don’t’ want to be out front but if I can do the work, you can take more clients. If you earn more, I’ll earn more. Right?”
“Yes, you get your salary, plus ten percent of whatever I make.”
“So if I double what you make, I double what I make. You wanted to give me a promotion and I know how stupid it is to pass up money, I’m just completely serious about not wanting to be out front.” She still looked nervous.
“First of all, please stop being nervous. I’m very happy with the work you’re doing. I don’t want you to go anywhere.” I took a sip of my coke. “But if we’re going to do this, we need to take a plan of action. First, you’ll need to sit in on my meetings so you get a feeling for the client. If I start increasing my clientele like you think I will, then I will negotiate for your percentage to increase from ten. You should get more than ten percent if you’re doing the work. And you can’t leave. You’re stuck with me for life.” I teased.
“Deal!” She raised her plastic coke cup to toast. We tapped glasses. “I’m excited!”
“Me too. My first appointment for today, she has a huge budget and if what she says is true, she’s made a miracle product.” I filled Olivia in on the details.
The rest of the day went smoothly with Olivia sitting in on appointments and the two of us dividing the work.
AWKWARD GROUP
Tuesday went just as smoothly. I used the beauty products Trina had left and I loved them. It was going to be easy to promote her product.
Wednesday I began to get nervous. It was another group appointment with Linda. I already scheduled myself to leave the office early so that I could go home, shower and change. With Olivia taking on some of my work, it really freed up my time. Because I knew I’d be nervous, I blocked the day out simply to work on campaigns.
I did a mock-up for Trina. Great ideas were flooding in, having a day with no interruptions. Being able to focus on her project gave me a much needed distraction from my
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