Just before one, I walk into Louise' office. She's not there so I seal a copy of both plans in a big envelope and set it on her chair. In my office, I tear off a four-foot strip of butcher paper and begin transferring the publication plan to the butcher paper. When the telephone rings, I push my door shut, pick up the receiver and say, "Hello, Peter."

"Your plans are elegant and precise. How did you determine that the second-tier executives and managers require intensive communication training?"

"You gave me a heads-up in the interview, Peter. Figured out the rest when I met most of them yesterday."

"Most? Whom did you miss?"

"Haven't met the facilities or food and beverage managers yet," I say in reply. "So is the plan go, no go or changed?"

"Go," he says. "As soon as Louise sends it to me for my approval, I'll tell her to proceed vigorously. I want this up and running in . . . a month."

A tap on my door, and Louise appears. Sees I'm on the phone and shuts the door.

"Roger that," I tell him. "Since you want me to do it quickly, let's fast-track some issues, Peter. First, the brief analysis I made that the second-tier require communication training will have to suffice."

"It does suffice," says Peter, "because it's close enough. Besides, I need these executives to be effective within a couple months, not six or more."

"Second, I need budget approval by tomorrow."

"You'll get it," he says without hesitation.

"Once Liz and the consultants are ready, they'll conduct a dress rehearsal with casino executives near the end of the month. As I mentioned in the interview, Peter, we finish training casino operations executives and managers before training anyone else."

"Oh, excellent," he says, almost giggling with delight. "I'm going to present your plans to the Doc's executive team who are here in Las Vegas, as you know," says Peter.

"I'd prefer that you present only the publication plan. The top-tier executives won't get this communication training, Peter," I say carefully. "The second-tier executives are the ones who need it. I have an idea how to present the communication training plan to the top executives."

"As you wish," says Peter, "but how will you do that with all four top executives here in Las Vegas?"

"When does Kerry North call Morty and Glenn for a daily status report?"

"Once at nine-thirty and again at four-thirty."

"Tell Kerry to make that afternoon call from your office with the other three executives there, but don't tell him why. I'll be sitting with Morty and Glenn."

Chuckling, Peter says, "I can hardly wait. Has Louise seen her copy yet?"

"She's reading it as we speak."

"Did she agree to meet with you?"

"Two o'clock," I say.

"So I can expect to hear Louise' request for approval this afternoon."

Rolling my eyes, I ask, "Has it occurred to you, Peter, that Doc's second-tier, non-revenue executives have zero ability to act independently of you?"

"It occurs to me every day," he says. "In fact, your project will insure that they communicate with me more effectively."

"Thanks for your quick response, Peter."

"I am delighted to be a small part of this, Jill."

Hang up, open my office door and sit staring at the wall for a couple minutes. I can see all eight issues of the magazine published and spread out on a coffee table in Dick Scope's office. I can see the re-prints in the historical foundation's magazine. I can see Liz in one-on-one meetings with the executives after each meeting, reviewing the videotapes and discussing them. This is all going to happen.

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