This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
It's been three weeks since I started my new job, and I'm already feeling the pressure. Everyone seems to think my former employer was something special, and I'm worried I won't be able to deliver.
One colleague even told me, 'Josphat, it's finally good to meet you. You come highly recommended!' I responded, 'Really, who's spreading such falsehoods?' He said, 'Well, we were told that there's this new guy who's a guru on strategy and procurement, and he'll change things.' I chuckled and said, 'Wish people really knew – I'm just an ordinary guy.'
But things took a turn when the Strategy Director came up to my desk and said, 'We're looking forward to seeing your 90-Day Action plan. We believe we can learn a lot from your previous experience.' I was worried – I thought I was only presenting to him, but he mentioned 'we,' which meant the entire leadership team would be there.
That's when I decided to reach out to Shiro, a friend who's great at this kind of thing. She told me, 'You have to dazzle them.' But I'm not exactly a presentation pro – I'd rather work on spreadsheets. Shiro had a solution, though: her niece Tina, who works in graphics, could help me out.
Tina turned out to be a finance graduate with a minor in graphic design, and she had a portfolio that included helping executives with presentations and their executive presence. I was taken aback by how much she makes – close to half a million – and that Shiro is one of her biggest clients. But Tina's skills were undeniable, and by the end of our four-hour session, I was convinced she's special.
She'd taken my information and turned it into a dazzling presentation, as she said, 'Always remember – less words, more impactful graphics.' I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep up with her, but I'm definitely considering keeping her on retainer.
