Ride-a-long Bob
“Hey Jan, it’s great to see you” Bob chirped as he climbed into my car.
I had dreaded this day for weeks.
“It’s great to see you too!” I replied. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”
Wow. I thought, now that’s too obvious. Less icing Jan, I told myself.
Bob is my boss. In my job the “boss” rides with his sales reps once a month. For 3 weeks and 4 days I have the ultimate freedom. Then, on the fifth day it’s all over.
The ride-a-long lasts 8 hours. It feels like 80.
“Where are we off to?” Bob asks. He sounds enthused.
“We going to Dr. Feld’s office,” I respond. “He’s a nice guy, but doesn’t use any of our drugs.”
I shrug my shoulders like it’s absolutely hopeless. Truthfully, it probably is. Dr. Feld doesn’t give a rat’s left testi about sales reps and what they have to say. If I get as much as “Hi Dr. Feld” before he cuts me off the call is a total success.
I explain this to Bob.
Bob looks over the data in his laptop. There’s a long pause. I can hear him thinking.
This is where he loses me. In my eyes, there’s not a lot that anyone can do with a person who won’t listen and doesn’t care enough to talk. What kind of strategy could Bob possibly be thinking up? Then I wonder- why don’t I care nearly as much as Bob does? I wrote off Dr. Feld months ago. I also didn’t think twice about it.
Then I wonder- maybe I’m just not very passionate about this job. Maybe I should do something else. But what? I don’t think I have any friends who have jobs that I would rather do. Maybe I’m putting too much pressure on myself to find something fabulous.
Maybe something fabulous comes out of what I do with my free time.
Maybe I should wear my new shoes tonight with the tan top. But do they match?
“I got it!” Bob exclaims.
Darn, I lost my next thought.
“You do?” I say. I’m trying to reflect his excitement.
“Yes,” he says with conviction. “Let’s talk to Dr. Feld about the importance of time in his office. Then we’ll add how our drugs can save him and his patients lots of time by treating the disease-state early.”
Wow. I’m blown away by Bob’s natural talent. Who would have thought of such a brilliant idea?
I nod in agreement.
“That’s a great idea Bob!” I add with enthusiasm.
Yes, I’m pretty sure the shoes do match the tan top. But I’ll check again when I get home tonight.
I had dreaded this day for weeks.
“It’s great to see you too!” I replied. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”
Wow. I thought, now that’s too obvious. Less icing Jan, I told myself.
Bob is my boss. In my job the “boss” rides with his sales reps once a month. For 3 weeks and 4 days I have the ultimate freedom. Then, on the fifth day it’s all over.
The ride-a-long lasts 8 hours. It feels like 80.
“Where are we off to?” Bob asks. He sounds enthused.
“We going to Dr. Feld’s office,” I respond. “He’s a nice guy, but doesn’t use any of our drugs.”
I shrug my shoulders like it’s absolutely hopeless. Truthfully, it probably is. Dr. Feld doesn’t give a rat’s left testi about sales reps and what they have to say. If I get as much as “Hi Dr. Feld” before he cuts me off the call is a total success.
I explain this to Bob.
Bob looks over the data in his laptop. There’s a long pause. I can hear him thinking.
This is where he loses me. In my eyes, there’s not a lot that anyone can do with a person who won’t listen and doesn’t care enough to talk. What kind of strategy could Bob possibly be thinking up? Then I wonder- why don’t I care nearly as much as Bob does? I wrote off Dr. Feld months ago. I also didn’t think twice about it.
Then I wonder- maybe I’m just not very passionate about this job. Maybe I should do something else. But what? I don’t think I have any friends who have jobs that I would rather do. Maybe I’m putting too much pressure on myself to find something fabulous.
Maybe something fabulous comes out of what I do with my free time.
Maybe I should wear my new shoes tonight with the tan top. But do they match?
“I got it!” Bob exclaims.
Darn, I lost my next thought.
“You do?” I say. I’m trying to reflect his excitement.
“Yes,” he says with conviction. “Let’s talk to Dr. Feld about the importance of time in his office. Then we’ll add how our drugs can save him and his patients lots of time by treating the disease-state early.”
Wow. I’m blown away by Bob’s natural talent. Who would have thought of such a brilliant idea?
I nod in agreement.
“That’s a great idea Bob!” I add with enthusiasm.
Yes, I’m pretty sure the shoes do match the tan top. But I’ll check again when I get home tonight.
posted by Jan32 at 12:54 PM
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