[JEMMA]

Story 5

Every company has its own stories. You know what type of stories I'm talking about. Sarah got drunk at the Christmas party and got caught blowing Jon in the supply cabinet. Ever since Marsha's husband left her, she'll sleep with anyone that gets her drunk. Mark from Accounting used to beat his wife, but he's in counseling now. Of course, he still doesn't wash his hands when he comes out of the bathroom. Did you hear about the time the guys from IT when they were in Texas for a conference and they all got arrested at a strip club?

These stories form the mythology of our work places. Most of them are innocuous gossip spiced with a lot of lies. Did you hear that Michael's wife is leaving him because of the affair he's having with Liz from customer service. Her husband has no idea. But there is also truth to be had in these stories. If you know how to look and what to listen for you can find that truth.

But sometimes when the story gets out, it's all truth. Back in the late 80's there was a junior executive at my company that caught his boss embezzling company money. When he confronted his boss, the man begged him not to tell the truth; which he agreed to do, on one condition. The boss had to send either his wife or his daughter to his house, giving them over to the younger man for one night, or he would go to jail.

The junior executive's names was Chuck, and he was my boss for the first six years I worked for my company. He told me this story one night when we were camped out in a shitty, cramped hotel room waiting for one of our clients to get back from the airport. Their flight was delayed and we had been waiting for close to 16 hours. Later, when we got home, he showed me the proof.

Did you ever read that book about how most corporate executives are sociopaths? Men like Chuck are the reason why.