> 'You may find after a time that the having is not so pleasing as the wanting. It is not Logical but I have found it to be so.' More or less a 'Spock' quote . Have fun. -- She Who Knits
[AN: Unfun Fact - My mother rubbed my aspiration failures into my face with this quote at every opportunity. I am desperately trying to not let that flavour this story. Wish me luck]
Hail to the Chief Executive Officer, they who have the power of ultimate control. They decide the schedule. They decide the pay. They decide who stays and who goes. They have the staff to do just about everything for them. They get to have holidays in luxurious resorts, have yachts, and play golf.
He who decides who rises and who falls.
There is a dance, in the offices. Under the buzzing hum of neon lights. Suck up to the upper ranks, but not _too_ much. Be the right amount of helpful. Be _respectful_ when correcting the ones above... and show authority to the ones below. Always be on guard against the obviously obsequious toady. They are for sure after your post.
It helped to learn about the next step up _before_ gaining the promotion. Everyone knew about the Peter Principal, but many thought they were smart enough to bypass it. It helped to be kind to former associates, swinging them small favours that would escape the notice of the upper rungs.
It _really_ helped to interact with people like a kindergarten teacher. With necessary adjustments, depending on the ego.
That was Dan's secret. Knowing how to walk a boss through realising their own mistakes whilst making it look like he was seeking their help. Sure, it gave him a reputation for being a bit dim, but since he was always stroking their egos, he rose up the corporate ladder.
Never incompetent. Never stupid. Gently steering the corporate direction towards wiser and more profitable decisions.
All the way up to the top.
The spacious office. The magnificent view. The downpayment on his first yacht from his new, luxurious pay packet.
...and the massive amount of paperwork he had to work on in order to "work his magic" on the rest of the company. The company was _huge_. There was going to be _pushback_. And he was expected to give the shareholders a timeline for the progression. And they wanted it to fit inside one financial year.
It almost made Dan long for the dance on the way to the top. At least he knew what he was doing, there.
[Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@spiritvisionstudios?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Ben Rosett</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-man-in-a-black-suit-loosening-his-tie-WdJkXFQ4VHY?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a>]
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