Mark Reynolds casually strolled into the room with less than a minute before the meeting was scheduled to begin. He quietly took a seat near the back wall and turned his attention to the attractive woman standing in the front. He couldn't help but notice her disdain as she looked him over just before checking her watch and calling the meeting to order.
She was a tall woman with a fairly prominent nose, but it worked very well on her face. She was what his grandmother called 'big boned'. She wasn't over weight, but she surely had curves where Mark felt a woman should have them.
Mark studied the woman as she turned to point to a slide presentation on a large monitor. He guessed her to be in her mid-twenties. Her dark hair was combed tightly in a bun. Mark assumed it was an effort to appear stern and business oriented.
For her part, Sandra Phillips quickly determined that the last man to enter the meeting room was the type of man that she considered to be a 'male bimbo'. He was about six foot tall with a strong jaw and deep blue eyes. He was dressed in a business very casual style which placed his rugged physique on display.
Sandra began the meeting precisely at 9 AM. "I'm now the marketing director and sales manager of Smith and Haynes. My name is Sandra Phillips. I have degrees in both marketing and business administration. It's my expectation that we'll be able to work together to increase sales, as well as improve customer satisfaction. It's no secret that a sound knowledge of a quality product sold at a competitive price will lead to success in the market.
"To that end, from this point forward, every member of our sales team will be expected to dress professionally. I see most of you already understand that fact."
Mark couldn't help but notice that his new boss was looking directly at him. Apparently she didn't approve of his kakis and polo shirt.
"Men, you will wear a jacket and tie when you represent our company or you won't be working for Smith and Haynes. The ladies will also wear appropriate business attire. There will be no exceptions.
"I'll let it slide today since it's quite apparent this is a new concept to some, but henceforth, no one will be allowed to attend our weekly sales meeting dressed in casual attire. Again, I am telling you that there will be no exceptions. Any questions?"
Mark was unable to conceal his grin as the woman glared at him in obvious annoyance.
"Please tell me your name so I can make some notations in your file," she insisted in what Mark knew was an obvious attempt to intimidate him.
"I don't think that'll be necessary," Mark replied as his grin increased. "Let's just get this meeting over with so we can get to work."
Everyone in the room went totally still. Mark had never been known to take things too seriously, but he was pushing the new boss pretty far.
"You don't think it's necessary?" the woman repeated. "You know what? I don't think your attendance here is necessary. I've read the company policies. I have the power to give you a week off without pay and I'm doing exactly that. You're not to enter this building until next Monday's meeting. At that time, I'll expect you to be wearing a jacket and tie. Be prepared to apologize."
"Thank you, Ms. Phillips," Mark said politely as he made his way from the room.
One week later, Mark walked into the meeting room wearing cargo shorts and an Eagles tee shirt.
"You know I'm not going to allow you to join our meeting dressed like that," stated Sandra Phillips. "You're behaving like a man who wants to be terminated."
"I saved you the trouble," Mark replied as he handed her a sealed envelope. "This is my resignation. I already stopped at HR and filled out the paperwork. Good luck with the company."
The surprised woman struggled to regain her composure. She had done some research on Mark Reynolds since their first interaction. He was easily the best salesman in the company. His sales numbers were impressive. It was her opinion that once she got him to dress appropriately and accept her mentoring, he would be an even greater success. Now he was gone.
Two weeks later, Mark was lying on a creeper under an 80 year old Alpha Romeo. He was trying to tighten up the transmission when he heard a woman clearing her throat in an attempt to gain his attention. He used his feet to carefully pull the creeper from under the classic car and into the open.
He was more than a little surprised to see Mrs. Edna Haynes, the owner of the company he had so recently left. She had always treated him very fairly and he had responded in kind. Seeing her in his shop was totally unexpected.
"Mrs. Haynes? It's nice to see you again. Is there some problem? I don't think I've ever seen you here before."
"I've never had reason to visit before this, Mark. I know you're busy, so I'm going to get right down to brass tacks. You had two interactions with my new 'marketing director' in the space of a week."
Mark noted that she used her fingers to make air quotes when she used the term marketing director.
"In the first meeting, she made you take a week off without pay. The second time you met, which was one week later, you handed her your resignation. It's occurred to me that the two of you didn't exactly hit it off."
"Mrs. Haynes, I told you when I started working for you years ago that I wasn't going to make your company my career. The young lady appeared out of the blue, declared that my choice of clothing was inappropriate and proceeded to suspend me for a week. It caused me to realize that my time at Smith and Haynes had run its course. She and I will never see things the same way. She's the boss. It wasn't a difficult decision."
"It was easier for you than it's been for us," stated Mrs. Haynes. "We're already running into problems keeping your buyers in the fold. More than a few of them explained to me that they could get the same product for less money elsewhere.
"It was your dedication to the terms of the contract that kept many of our buyers with us. I heard a story two days ago where you drove a box of specialty bolts 250 miles when one of your customers called you in a panic. They had neglected to order them with the other products we supplied. You made the long drive to keep the customer happy."
"That's just part of the job, as I saw it," Mark replied. "It's nice that my gesture was appreciated, but that doesn't explain why you're standing here today. I don't work for you anymore."
"That's the problem I'm here to address. I'm willing to increase your commission as well as your base pay if you'll agree to return to work for Haynes and Smith," the older woman offered.
"Ma'am, I left your company for two separate, but very good reasons," Mark explained. "The first reason is that my business is taking off. This is my future and I'm working damn hard to make it a success.
"The second, and more obvious reason, is your new marketing director has a bug up her ass over me. I simply don't want to waste my time listening to her bullshit about how to be a better salesman. She has two degrees and no real world experience. Frankly, I don't know how she managed to get the job."
Mark heard a gasp from the doorway. He turned to see Sandra Phillips standing nearby. To his embarrassment, she had been listening to every word he spoke. He quickly tried to lessen the harshness of his criticism.
"I'm sure Ms Phillips is highly qualified and will do an excellent job for you. I'm just too stubborn and set in my ways to learn new techniques. She deserves better people surrounding her, people who'll accept her suggestions, follow her edicts and work to expand the company."
"You've demonstrated why you do so well in sales, Mark. That was a very good recovery," Mrs. Haynes acknowledged with a smile.
"I thought you might refuse my offer, so I have a back-up. If you would agree to work with, and mentor Sandy for one month, I'd be willing to compensate you far more than you've been taking home, which has been substantial.
"You need to know that Sandy's my granddaughter and she's the future of the company. She was a bit overeager to establish herself, but she has a clearer picture of our mission statement now."
"I'm sure she'll do very well, but I don't think she'd be very receptive to my suggestions and business practices. She has two degrees and I was lucky to make it out of high school."
"Mark, don't try to snowball me. I'm the person who hired you. As I recall, you were fifth in your class and quite popular. You played on two varsity sports teams, participated in the debate club and served as president of student council in your senior year," Mrs. Haynes stated.
"You told me you had a seven year plan to build your automobile business and would probably leave Smith and Haynes at that time. You have three months remaining to reach seven years. I'm only asking for one of those months.
"I believe that practical experience will greatly enhance Sandy's understanding of her position as well as improve her appreciation of what her sales people face in their efforts."
When Mrs. Haynes finished speaking, Mark saw her look at her granddaughter and nod slightly.
"Mr. Reynolds, I'm not proud of the way I conducted myself at our first interaction," Sandy admitted. "Grandmother has explained to me in no uncertain terms how foolish I was, and how it was not to happen again. If you accept my grandmother's offer, I assure you that I'll cooperate fully and try to incorporate as much of your sales style as I can."
