Doc's Place

© 2008, Michel Grover. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1 | Part 3
Saturday, September 15, 1984

"What about my background made you think I"d fit in at Doc"s Place, Mr. Marriott?"

"The award-winning alumni magazine you edited was impressive," he says, frowning as if he hadn"t expected the question, "but no, it was your graduate research. You convinced the Salt Lake City Chief of Detectives to let you interview homicide detectives for your master"s research." He shakes his head and says, "Incredible." After a moment he says, "I"m also interested in your work for the graduate school of business. Tell me about your work with MBA students."

"The coursework requires each MBA student to make two business presentations per quarter. The Dean paid me to videotape each presentation," I said. "Afterward, I met with the individual and critiqued his or her presentation compared to specific criteria for quality performance—eye contact, engaging body language, no distracting behavior and so on."

"The school of business had been measuring graduate students" presentations for ten years," I tell him, "Thirty-three percent consistently met the specific criteria. After the first video critique session, the average rose to fifty-five percent and after the second, it rose to eighty-five percent and remained there."

Nodding once, he says, "I"d like to ask something personal, Jill. As you answer my questions, you speak without hesitating or interjecting the usual "uh" or "I think," and so on. Will you tell me how you learned to do that?"

"It's not relevant," I tell him, watching for a reaction. When I see none, I say, "This position is two jobs in one, Mr. Marriott. Please expand on that."

"The open objectives are to publish the employee magazine and provide executives with communication consultation. The hidden objective is to keep secret Ferro"s intent to sell Doc"s Place for eighteen months despite fifty percent layoffs and remodeling," says Peter. He waits for my response.

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Doc's Place Chat
© 2008, Michel Grover.
Chapter 1 | Part 3
Early 2008

Mic :
In the left frame, I'm posting Doc's Place, one of my copyrighted stories. I'll post a part of a chapter, wait for a while so people may leave comments or questions and then post those I find interesting.

Jules :
Jill, I think I know you, man. You published my photos from the Olympics in Yugoslavia when you were editing the university's departmental alumni rag. Turned out to be a pretty sad visual commentary, considering what happened to those cities a short time later. Anyway, can you believe this shit? What a coincidence!

Jill :
I remember, Jules. Your photos were mentioned as one reason we got that national award.

Ian :
Hey mate, how'd you include that Google map?

Mic :
Mate? What are you, a Yank trying to impersonate an Aussie? Pretty lame, Ian. Oh, hit print screen, paste it into Microsoft Paint, re-size as needed, save to a file and insert. Piece o' cake, cobber.

Lucia :

Have to admit, Mic and Jill, I thought this was pretty boring but this 3rd installment is intriguing: 2 jobs in 1 with open and hidden objectives—tough assignment. Be interesting to see how you keep your facts straight.

Ian :
You really are a dick, Mic. I live in Brisbane but no worries. You're not the only one with thick skin. Query for Jill: why did you allow Peter to use your first name when he would not accord you the same courtesy?

Jill :
Trying to be professional, I guess, Ian.

Doug :
Mic, this whole blog could be fiction for all we know. How do we know which posts are real and which ones you just make up?

Mic :
You don't. If you don't like that, stop reading.

Les :

Jill, I was in one of the MBA classes where you videotaped us giving a presentation and then reviewed the results with us—very helpful. Full disclosure to other readers: don't believe the self-deprecating remarks about Jill being plain. She's bad-ass hot!

Mic :
You barely made it in with that one, Les. Such sophomoric rants will not be tolerated.

Jill :
Leave Les alone. He's just expressing his opinion. Oh, and Les? I'm approaching 60 now so the correct rant would be: she used to be hot but now she's old.

Ian :
Still waiting for an apology or are you still Mic the dick?

Mic :
Hold your breath, Ian. Any minute now. . . .

Lucia :
Time for another story, Jill. What else happened on your way to Reno?