Anonymous
Wrong, dammit, they're wrong again! And then they blame me because my products are losing sales and share."
Wesley, a product manager at a large packaged foods company in New York City, complained long and loud, always pointing out that the downward trend started long before he took over the product line. He shared his criticism of senior management with everyone who'd listen. When he found a new, higher paying job at a rival company, he made a point of telling all the vice presidents exactly what they were doing wrong and how relieved he was not to have to deal with them anymore. He chuckled afterwards and felt great about it.
Until the two companies merged six months later! Wesley was still a product manager, the vice presidents were still vice presidents, and now they all worked for the same company again.
The story became famous, and Wesley was certain everyone was laughing at him. Less than two months after the merger, he resigned. This time Wesley wrote a simple resignation letter and left with no parting shots.
"I just had to get out. No one wanted to be associated with me. I was the company joke. I could have tolerated almost anything but that - being laughed at."
