Why me.

1. So. Interesting
background you have
here, Mr. Daniel.

2. Thanks.

3. We’ll have to give some
thought to how you
might fit in with us.

4. Um. Sure.
Sounds good.

5. Yeah, right.

6. This guy has zero task-
specific experience!

7. He’s in his forties with
kids. He’s gonna want a
decent salary.

8. Okay, say he actually is
super-smart, has great
judgment and people
skills, and superior
follow-through...

9. He’s still a crap shoot.

10. The economy’s in a
tailspin.

11. No way do we take a
chance on him.

12. Mr. Daniel, we’ll have to
get back to you.

13. That’s fine,
but...

14. You might
consider...

16. Somebody with
skills and a
background like
mine doesn’t
come along every
day...

17. Like…never.

18. Well, since we’re being
honest...

19. Frankly, Mr. Daniel,
your background seems
a bit…”frou-frou” for
business.

20. Is it?

21. You ever written
a novel?

22. I’m six, Mr. Daniel.

23. Well, I’m sure you
could if you didn’t
have to go to school
and run a business.
My point is…

24. Some pretty
mad skills are on
display there…

25. Idea generation,
obviously. You have
to respond to “inside
the box” reader
expectations with
“outside the box”
solutions.

26. If you don’t, you
lose all
competitive
advantage right
off the bat…

27. But it doesn’t stop
there...

28. Go on. I’m listening.

29. You have to
think supremely
strategically…

30. You should see
some of my
outlines...

31. You have to generate
an enormous plan,
exacting to the
smallest detail, then
execute it with
precision and
imagination.

32. But it doesn’t stop
there...

33. You have to adapt on
the fly…

34. But always keep the
overall purpose of
the project in mind
at all times...

35. The larger themes
and individual
execution must
match up…

36. Or you’ve got a
mess on your hands
instead of a novel.

37. Sound familiar?

38. Somewhat.

39. There’s more.
Believe it or not,
there’s a strong
social and
management aspect
to writing a novel.

40. You must accept
and incorporate
feedback up and
down the line.

41. Your copy editor and
proof reader have to
be respected.

42. And your editor’s
input must be
incorporated.

43. And then, after the
whole thing is
published and out
there…

44. You must maintain
great relationships
with your readers if
you ever expect
them to read
anything else you
write.

45. Okay.

46. Granted the analogy to
successful management
and business execution
is a strong one…

47. You still don’t have
specific experience in
our industry.

48. I guess that’s going
to be where your
imagination and
trust comes in.

49. But you might
consider…

50. Another ability a
novelist needs is
the ability to
absorb information
like a sponge...

51. And to put it to
immediate and
effective use within
an overall plan…

52. He must
successfully adapt.
Constantly.

53. So…

54. The question is really
whether you need
somebody as
effective as I can
be.

55. Or are you doing so
well you don’t need
any more amazing,
singular assets like me
to ensure your
competitive
advantage?

57. You’ve certainly got the
chutzpah going for you.
I’ll give you that.

58. My is e-mail is
darkestcoffee at
gmail.

59. It’s not all talk,
kiddo.

60. But it’s your call in
the end.