Who Moved My Blackberry? (30 page)

But I want to say that I'm your father, and I'm 110 percent here for you. You are my oldest son. You are like myself (for your sins!!) in many regards. Moving forward, if you put your creovative™ streak to work, you won't go far wrong.

Your loving Dad

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Graham Wallace

Who told you that?!!? Yes, Jens has gone to Atlanta. I just spoke to her 5 minutes ago and she didn't say anything about being offered a job. I know that Keith has always had a thing about her, but even he wouldn't do that …

M

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Jenny Withers

Thanks for your message. Jake much better this morning. He grunted at me in a slightly less hostile way. I've also sent him a long e-mail establishing some new ground rules. There is going to be one big win out of this—my relationship with him is going to be a lot stronger.

Btw Graham has heard a rumor that you're in the frame for Roger's job!!!???

M

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Jenny Withers

WHAT??? That is the most stupid thing I've ever heard … You do realize I couldn't possibly work under you, don't you??

When u coming back? We must talk about this NOW!

M

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Jenny Withers

Jens, sorry if my message just then sounded a bit negative. I've thought about it some more, in a very logical way, and reached the conclusion that this is a lose-lose situation. You lose because you would be doing a job that is not well aligned with your skillsets. Being chairman would make you totally stressed and miserable. The company would lose because you would not be the right person and might start making sub-optimal decisions. I would lose because it is very unhealthy working for one's wife—or ex-wife, as you certainly would be if you took the job—and I would be left with no choice but to leave the company. Ergo, the company would lose again.

Most important, the boys would lose, especially Jake. If he had a mother who was around more, he would be much less interested in drugs. Max needs you around too. I was really shocked over the weekend at the change in him. He spent most of Sunday morning in church, did the washing up, took all the skateboarding posters down in his bedroom, and has stuck up some nightmare poster featuring a cheesy picture of Jesus. He's clearly in a bad way.

Mull it over, and you'll see I'm right. Please don't think I'm making these points out of self-interest. I'm not. I'm just standing back and looking at all the issues in the round.

Martin

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Jenny Withers

No Jens, I'm not trying to blame you for the boys. As their father I realize that I'm responsible too. It's just that until now you have been closer to them. Yes of course I realize that at the end of the day, it's your call.

Well at least can you promise me one thing … that you'll think about it for a few days before deciding? Let's talk about it when you're home tomorrow. When's your flight?

Martin

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
SebastianFforbesHever@HeidrickFerry

Hi Sebastain

Don't know if you got my e-mail of last week. I'm attaching a copy of it in case not. Would be good to meet up soonest to kick around a couple of ideas.

Martin

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Stewart@harleystreetclinic

Dear Dr. Stewart

As I told your secretary on the telephone, I have been finding traces of blood in my stool. Obviously this is a serious matter and tends to confirm—what I suspected at the time—that the bowel cancer man you sent me to missed something serious.

I also have a fast-beating heart, sometimes leading to palpitatons and chronic insomnia. I am tending to sweat more than usual, and am tired all the time, and sometimes irritable. This is not at all like myself, as I am usually very controlled.

Would appreciate an appointment at the earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely

Martin Lukes

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Max Lukes

Dear Max

Thanks for your message. It's kind of you to pray for me, but really old man, quite unnecessary. It was good to see you at the weekend, and so sorry that thanks to Jake's theatricals we didn't have much in the way of quality time.

Though if I'm being completely honest with you I'm a bit worried about this Alpha course malarky. It just doesn't seem very you.

Love Dad

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Max Lukes

Dear Max

I didn't mean to be dismissive! I quite agree with Jesus re tolerance and belief. Of course, at the end of the day we all have to do what's right for us as individuals. Thanks also for sending me the material on Alpha course in the workplace, all looks v interesting, but I'm not sure that a-b glöbâl (UK) is quite ready for it at the present moment in time!!

Love Dad

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Phyllis Lukes

Dearest Mummy

Thanks for your message, and sorry I haven't been able to nail down Christmas plans … To be perfectly frank, you and I might be spending it on our own at your place. Things with Jens are beyond bad—you were so right when you said it was a disastrous idea for her to work at the same place as me. You're not going to believe this but it looks like she's going to wind up as my boss.

It's all taking its toll on me physically. I went to see the doctor this morning, and it turns out I have piles. He says I'm depressed, which frankly I don't accept, but I've decided to take the pills anyway—which means I'm now on Temazepam, Prozac and Anusol.

Don't worry about the boys. They are both fine.

Can I come down and stay with you this weekend?

Martie

From:
Pandora@CoachworX!

To:
Martin Lukes

Hi Martin

Can I make a suggestion? Although Executive Bronze usually only runs for one year, there is no reason why in your case we shouldn't extend into next year. I feel this could be helpful as there are some outstanding issues we could address. I do not feel happy signing off on my coachees until they are at least 10 percent better than the best they can be. I am, as you know, your greatest and sincerest fan. It deeply pains me to know that you are letting your self-belief slip. Martin, please let me help you get to the top and stay there!

Strive and thrive!

Pandora

From:
Faith Preston

To:
All Staff

Hiya!

This year at the Christmas party we are all going to play Secret Santa!

Pick a name out of the hat, and you get to buy a present for this person! All gifts must be under a fiver! It's going to be a load of fun!!

Faith

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Graham Wallace

Guess who I've picked out? Jens! Nightmare. She always hates my presents. I don't think Secret Santa really expects that you will be getting gifts for your wife who wants to divorce you …

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Graham Wallace

Graham—have you seen this in the FT today??? I knew that Cindy and Keith didn't get on, but didn't realize it was that bad. Cindy's an idiot, but it's still good news for us—as Keith had it in for me. And there's no way Cindy is going to promote Jens—she'd be too much like competition.

Martin

From:
Cindy Czarnikow

To:
All Staff

Hi

First up, thank you for your trust. It means a lot to me.

I believe that miracles are within our grasp. I want each one of you to come into work every day believing you are about to do something miraculous. If you do that, we will exceed our goals within months! Can I ask you all to join hands in this holiday season and take a minute to think about the journey we are going to travel together.

I have two announcements to make on my top team. Keith will sadly be leaving us and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank him for the love and passion he has devoted to this company, and wish him the best on his travels, wherever they may lead him!

Roger Wright, who has done a best of breed job in leading the UK company through turbulent times, is appointed to be chairman of a-b glöbâl UK on a permanent basis.

I'm smiling at you

Cindy

From:
Keith Buxton

To:
All Staff

Hi everyone

It is with mixed emotions that I announce my resignation from a-b glöbâl. It has been a tough decision, but I have decided to pursue other options and spend more time with my wife and family. I would like to thank everyone here for making the last few years so enjoyable. I feel privileged to have worked with you and wish you everything good in continuing a-b glöbâl's proud legacy.

Very truly yours

Keith

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Jenny Withers

Jens

We are quits now. I've lost my protector and you've lost yours. Don't feel badly about the job. It's all for the best. M

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Jenny Withers

You had already turned it down??? Why??

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Jenny Withers

THAT'S FANTASTIC NEWS!!!!!!!!! When were you planning to tell me??? Did it happen that night in the hotel in Paradise Island? Can we have supper tonight to celebrate a new start?

M xx

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Jenny Withers

PS Just reassure me—it is mine, isn't it?

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Cindy Czarnikow

Hi Cindy

Can I be the first to say congratulations?? As you know, I have always had the greatest respect for your work and have always got a terrific buzz out of working with you. I'd also like to say that I share your respect for Roger, and have every confidence that he is the right man to lead us into calmer waters! However, his skills are more on the finance/cost side and would be complemented by someone who is more on the vision/strategy side. I am proposing myself in the new role of Director of Marketing and Strategy. Can we talk about this?

All my very besteset

Martin

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Roger Wright

Hi Roger, many congratulations on your appointment. Very well deserved, if I might venture so bold.

Can we have some face time re my position? I am prepared to move back to Marketing, but would like some additional scope to deploy my big-picture creovative™ skills.

Best, Martin

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Roger Wright

Hi Roger

Director of Special Projects??? Not sure I like the sound of that. How many people would be on my team? Unless the job is clearly senior to Marketing Director, I don't feel at all inclined to accept it. In fact if that's all you can offer myself, you leave me no choice but to pursue options in the “outside world.”

Martin

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Jenny Withers

Darling

How are you feeling? Hope you're not tiring yourself.

I'm being offered Director of Special Projects, but I've turned it down. I've said that if they call it Director of Special Projects and Strategy I might consider it. Team is minimal, but I would be allowed to do almost unlimited blue sky thinking. Rog says that the position has been created specially for me, and it would be up to me to make my mark on it. What bothers me is that Christo may think he's senior to me. I couldn't take that …

Martin

From:
Martin Lukes

To:
Phyllis Lukes