"Mr. Weiman, please understand the predicament I am in. I'm a seventeen year old CEO of a Fortune 500 company, I just can't trust anyone who comes to me and says 'here let me help your company grow and be a succes!" I fixed the crease in my skirt and tilted my head to the side as I intently observed Mr. Weiman. "I hope you understand. Please keep in mind that if a situation were to occur where your assistance is needed, my people will be in touch with your people. Now if you would please follow Amanda, she will make sure you exit the building safely."
He was speechless. A seventeen year old girl, who is still a junior in high school, just told him that her company did not need him, him - a highly respected and world renowned financial advisor. Instead of further attempting to intimidate and convince me with his impressive statistical data on the growth of my company, he curtly nodded his head and followed Amanda towards the door. Before shutting the door behind him, he turned to face me again.
"Ms. Elstreet -"
"Please, Mr. Weiman, it's Pheobe."
He nodded his head in acknowledgement and continued, "Pheobe, let me forwarn you that you're no longer playing around with your school's board of directors or even the kid down the street trying to negotiate a deal with you regarding pirated videos, this is the real world. The big guys are after you and they have far more connections then you do and far more experience," he hesistated then continued, "both in life and business. It's a scary world and one wrong skip down an alley can put you in the hands of the guys with a grudge."
He was damn right. That's the scary part. Another scary part, I had just denied his free service to my company. But I'm playing hard to get and based on my experience, guys go after it like they go after a fresh hoagie. "Thank you, Mr. Weiman. We will surely be in touch." And just like that, he was out of sight.
"Damn girl, you seriously seemed like you had been through Harvard Business School a couple of times, Masters and PHD, the whole works!" exclaimed Jon as he emerged from the corner of the office. "You had him flabbergasted. Now what?"
I laughed. Seriously, now what do we do? That was the highlight of my day, my week actually. We had spent two weeks planning for a meeting to tell a hot shot that we didn't need him, of course we lied - we're just playing hard to get. I looked at Jon and shrugged. "I guess we should finish our homework that way we can continue planning, selling, and negotiating. You know, what business people do."
Jon smirked and pulled out his laptop. "Yeah, what business people do: Study the history of the United States. It's the newest trend promised to spike your numbers within a week!"
Behind his sarcastic foreplay, he had actually made a valid point. Why were we studying U.S. History when we were running our own successful business for real? No tiny neighborhood lemonaide stand, a legit business with an address along one of New York City's illustrous business districts.
He was speechless. A seventeen year old girl, who is still a junior in high school, just told him that her company did not need him, him - a highly respected and world renowned financial advisor. Instead of further attempting to intimidate and convince me with his impressive statistical data on the growth of my company, he curtly nodded his head and followed Amanda towards the door. Before shutting the door behind him, he turned to face me again.
"Ms. Elstreet -"
"Please, Mr. Weiman, it's Pheobe."
He nodded his head in acknowledgement and continued, "Pheobe, let me forwarn you that you're no longer playing around with your school's board of directors or even the kid down the street trying to negotiate a deal with you regarding pirated videos, this is the real world. The big guys are after you and they have far more connections then you do and far more experience," he hesistated then continued, "both in life and business. It's a scary world and one wrong skip down an alley can put you in the hands of the guys with a grudge."
He was damn right. That's the scary part. Another scary part, I had just denied his free service to my company. But I'm playing hard to get and based on my experience, guys go after it like they go after a fresh hoagie. "Thank you, Mr. Weiman. We will surely be in touch." And just like that, he was out of sight.
"Damn girl, you seriously seemed like you had been through Harvard Business School a couple of times, Masters and PHD, the whole works!" exclaimed Jon as he emerged from the corner of the office. "You had him flabbergasted. Now what?"
I laughed. Seriously, now what do we do? That was the highlight of my day, my week actually. We had spent two weeks planning for a meeting to tell a hot shot that we didn't need him, of course we lied - we're just playing hard to get. I looked at Jon and shrugged. "I guess we should finish our homework that way we can continue planning, selling, and negotiating. You know, what business people do."
Jon smirked and pulled out his laptop. "Yeah, what business people do: Study the history of the United States. It's the newest trend promised to spike your numbers within a week!"
Behind his sarcastic foreplay, he had actually made a valid point. Why were we studying U.S. History when we were running our own successful business for real? No tiny neighborhood lemonaide stand, a legit business with an address along one of New York City's illustrous business districts.
