The Gap

You are a powerful woman. Uncompromising, strong, everything I want you to be. But you are feminine - caring, unsure, vulnerable. This tension is unique to you. Say it in your writing. Your voice is valuable.  - Papa, Christmas 2007

Here are the items she brought to the meeting: pen, notebook, Droid, and water bottle. She was excellent at dissecting a conversation, especially when those in authority were pontificating. Ignoring out-loud thinking and capturing her assignments on paper was her specialty.

The other managers were there, all men smooth and leaning back casually in their leather chairs, tossing out half-formed opinions and receiving thoughtful nods from the men higher up the food chain.

Neanderthal idiot goons, she thought, keeping her ankles crossed and an attentive smile on her face.

The discussion turned to fundraising. Mike from marketing, bless his heart, spoke up first.

"Sponsorships are essential to our next five years. I cannot stress how much our financial sustainability depends on alternative funding sources in these economic times."

Jim was next.

"To build on Mike's excellent statement, I would agree and also add that we need to think outside the box."

Then Ted.

"Yes, I agree with Jim and Mike and their valuable insight. We need to think outside the box and find unconvential alternatives."

She put her pen down.

Robert said, "We'll have to train our workforce to think outside the box. They don't do that very well."

Murmers of assent flowed around the table like the wave at a baseball game. There was a high five at the other end of the table.

She couldn't stand it anymore. She cleared her throat and said, "I think we need to put a request for proposals out for retailers to sponsor our delivery trucks statewide. I've analyzed the return on investment and if they give us a million dollars they can reasonably expect eight hundred thousand impressions."

As she was speaking, Robert and Jim turned in their chairs toward the CEO and leaned forward. Other than that, no one moved, and no one made eye contact with her.

Four seconds of silence passed.

Ted said, "I agree with Robert's excellent point. We can no longer afford to be the only ones with unconvential thinking. We need our entire company thinking about how to raise funds right now."

"Now is that a training problem, or a talent problem?" Jim asked.

Resigned sighs rippled through the room, making her guess that they thought the company's talent problem was hopeless.

Robert pointed his finger high into the air and said, "What about - and this thought just hit me now - what about our fleet? What about all that blank space on our trucks? I bet we could find a corporate sponsor who wants a piece of that."

Ted leaned forward in his chair.

The CEO said, "Robert, that's an excellent idea. How much do you think we should go after?"

Robert said, "Oh, I would say about one million dollars would get us back on our feet for now."

"I like the idea Robert. Get a team together and let's see what you can do. Give me an update in a week."

Her pen slipped to the floor. She rose out of her chair and bent to pick it up, then thought better of it. She stood, squared her shoulders and spoke.

****************************************************************************

Here are the items she brought to the meeting a week later: a cup of coffee and her Droid. As she sat down Robert handed her the sponsorship status report.

The CEO strolled in and parked himself in the seat next to her. "How are they doing, Rachel?"

"I've got a good team, Frank. We're on track to put out the sponsorship bid on Friday. We've got two potential funders on board already."

Robert said, "Sir, your decision to make Rachel our supervisor was the best you could have made. She is wholly engaged in ensuring a successful outcome on this project."

"I agree with Robert," Ted said.

Jim and Mike looked a little sick.