“Do you think the Dallas Cowboys just give up when they’re trailing into the fourth quarter?” Sebastian asked. “Do World Series teams just call it quits after trailing for the first three games?”
“No, but I’d venture to say they aren’t as excited to play as they were when the game started,” Robbie remarked.
“Hey, it’s not easy being down and out,” Sebastian agreed, “but hope springs eternal. You can’t just quit. You’ve gotta keep the spirit alive.”
Always leave the bully an out. You must make the alternatives sound as if they are his brilliant solutions. If you back an angry animal into a corner, his defenses will be on red alert.
…sometimes we have to give a little to get a little. If you show a willingness to give a little ground, the other side may also be willing to do the same.
In his case, I laid out the situation real clear for him. I told him what it would cost him in accounting and legal fees, as well as lost time and opportunity, if he wanted to fight it. It would have been far worse than
what he owed.- Sebastian
“Nothing worthwhile happens overnight, Robbie,” Sebastian explained. “You have to stick with it. Starting a professional service firm is difficult. Just because you’re in a white-collar financial firm doesn’t mean it’s going to be an easier sell or startup than a blue-collar company. Let me
give you a good example. Think of good ol’ Jake, who runs the janitorial service in your office building. He didn’t just start with six vans and a clean-up crew of eight in each. He started with two guys, a pick-up truck, and a bottle of bleach. They did a good job with their first client, and that person told a friend about them. The next week, they had two jobs, and the week after that, they had three. It’s a matter of people getting to know your name. You’ve gotta establish yourself by earning their trust. That’s all the more important in a business where you’re dealing with financial information. It’s all about staying in the game! Keep your head in the game and keep grinding, and you just never know when something
is going to really pop.”
“What’s his way out?” Sebastian asked thoughtfully.
“Excuse me?” Robbie said. “His way out? I don’t know that he has one. I mean, if you’re talking breach of contract—”
Sebastian shook his head. “That’s not what I mean,” he explained. “What is his way out of the situation with the money and your resignation? Robbie, people will take advantage of you when and where they can. There’s no doubt about that. Everybody wants something for nothing, and people are always trying to get away with as much as they can. But this is no playground. It’s business, and in business, there are
bullies who will push you around so they can get their way, or else they’ll step right on your head to boost themselves up to the next rung of the ladder.” Sebastian nodded thoughtfully before continuing, as if he were even teaching himself a thing or two. “You can’t let Sean get away with treating you like crap and get away without paying you something for your efforts.”
Robbie looked at Sebastian curiously, sensing he was about to elaborate. “All right, go on. I’m listening.”
“Bullies are emotional,” Sebastian explained. “The best way to react to them is with calm, reasonable logic. You haven’t even addressed him face to face about this yet. You both know the situation and have
avoided talking about it because it’s uncomfortable. The first step is to communicate. Get a dialog going. Feel him out and see what his reaction is. There’s a chance you can work something out. If not, you can always use the resignation as a last resort. But if you let him ignore the situation, the tension between you two is going to grow like a cancer. It won’t be healthy for your business relationship or for either of you personally.”
Robbie nodded; Sebastian had made perfect sense, like always. “But what if the bully has you backed into a corner, Sebastian? What if I try all of that, and he still doesn’t come through?”
“Again, Robbie, you have to out-reason him,” Sebastian continued. “You can’t get emotional or fight dirty or lower yourself to his level. Always leave the bully an out. You must make the alternatives sound as if they are his brilliant solutions. If you back an angry animal into a corner, his defenses will be on red alert. Leaving him an out is a good way to make sure he saves face.
“I was having a business lunch once, early on in my career in Atlanta, back when I was still a little wet behind the ears. It was a boss-employee kind of thing—casual, but we still had to mind our manners, ya know?”
“Yeah. Go on.”
“Well, my boss and I ate lunch, and I took cues from him about what to order. He had a beer, so I ordered one as well. Since I figured he was gonna be picking up the tab, I took it easy and just got ordered a draft domestic and a light meal. We had a few bites and a few drinks and a little talk, and everything went fine. He picked up the check, and even though I offered to pay my share, he wouldn’t have it. I offered to at least pay the tip, and he got a little offended, so I shrugged and put away my
wallet.”
“Well, he sounds like a pretty selfless guy,” Robbie said.
“Not really,” Sebastian said, pausing to reflect on the event that had taken place two decades prior, one that had left a lasting impression on him. “I couldn’t believe the tip he laid down,” he explained with a touch of disapproval. “A buck on a forty-dollar tab. That girl had really busted her butt for us, so it pissed me off. But really, there was nothing I could say. I mean, that was my boss, and I didn’t want to offend him. We got up and left the table, but halfway to the door, I lied and said I’d dropped my keys or something, then flew back to the table. I was just laying a five-dollar bill down to add to his pathetic excuse for a tip when the waitress showed up. She saw me and came over to me. I was embarrassed and didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but she said, ‘Sir, you don’t know how much I appreciate this. My gas tank is nearly empty, and the rent is late. Every dollar will really help today, and you just help put me over the top.’ I grumbled something nice and congratulated her and walked away.”
“You just walked away? Just like that?”
“Well, what was I supposed to say to that? But anyway, it’s always stayed with me. It was just five bucks to me, and I’d just gotten a free lunch, so why would I care? But that measly few dollars meant gas money to her. You just don’t ever know how much of a difference a few bucks can make for somebody, and I’ve never forgotten that.”
“Robbie, you don’t have much in common with your generation now, and I doubt you ever will. I doubt they’ll ever catch up to you.”
“But I’m still a good guy,” Robbie said defensively. “I just wish they’d get to know me. I can be really fun to hang out with.”
“Yes, but they don’t know that,” Sebastian countered. “They have a different perception about you, and their perception is their reality, whether it’s real or not.”
Robbie tilted his head to express his curiosity at the assertion. “All right,” he said. Then, as if sensing there was more to the story, he prompted, “Go ahead. I’m listening.”
“First, you know you’re not going to be like most of the other students,” Sebastian said. “You’re not going to change what you wear and how you live your life.”
“No,” Robbie agreed. “I know I’ll never fit in with them.”
“All I’m saying is that you shouldn’t let someone like that anger you,”
Sebastian said. “If you let them anger you, they win.”
Robbie hesitated, then sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”
Orlando, FL, Miami, FL, Myrtle Beach, SC & Washington, D.C. June 22, 2016—The office of mystery author Digger Cartwright announced that The Maynwarings: A Game of Chance has won the Indie Readers Discovery Awards Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category in 2016. In Addition to winning the award The Maynwarings was given a 5 star review and marked as “Indie Reader Approved.”
An excerpt of the review from Indie Reader follows:
A ranching mogul/senator returns from D.C to his Nevada homestead unaware that a series of sinister situations are in the works to take over Carson City and ultimately destroy his ranch empire.
Barron Maynwaring owns much of Carson City. Together with his wife and adult children, the Maynwarings are recognized as a prominent and well-respected family. Yet the Maynwarings are in for a big surprise with a flurry of strange activity—cattle rustling, murder, and worse yet, the lynching of their long-time friend and helper Jeremy Foster…The circumstances only get worse, especially when the Maynwarings learn that Carson City is being taken over business by business.
Cartwright has created a one-of-a-kind tale of power and politics in his latest western. Set during the time of the Reconstruction, Cartwright immediately draws his audience into a realm that is somewhat reminiscent of the beloved TV western Bonanza (1959-1973), which represented a respected ranch family defending their territory while dealing with social issues. Cartwright’s third person narrative includes a highly defined cast of heroes, villains, and a flurry of minor characters, many of which function as foils. While surrounding his cast with the flavor of the Old West (i.e., saloons, cattle ranching, card gambling), Cartwright punctuates a bit of history into his plot, such as the Comstock Lode near Virginia City. Key to Cartwright’s writing style is his incorporation of engaging dialogue within alternating character scenes. Yet closing on a cliffhanger, Cartwright dangles a hint that the Maynwarings’ story will continue.
THE MAYNWARINGS: A GAME OF CHANCE is an appealing western read with a edgy political twist.
For the Full review text and information on the Discovery Awards please visit http://indiereader.com/2016/05/a-ranching-empire-is-under-attack-in-the-maynwarings-a-game-of-chance.
In addition to the Indie Reader Discovery Award, The Maynwarnings: A Game of Chance received two USA Regional Excellence Book Awards (2015 & 2016). It was also a finalist in the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards (2015), the Beverly Hills Book Awards (2015) and the 9th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (2015). An excerpt from The Maynwarings: A Game of Chance can be viewed on Amazon.com by clicking here.
Additional information on Mr. Cartwright and his award-winning novels is available at www.DiggerCartwright.com or www.MysteryDigger.com.
About Mr. Cartwright—Digger Cartwright is the author of several mystery stories, teleplays, and novels including The Versailles Conspiracy, a modern day political thriller, Murder at the Ocean Forest, a traditional mystery novel set in the 1940s, The House of Dark Shadows, a psychological thriller, and The Maynwarings: A Game of Chance, a mystery set in the Old West. His latest book, Conversations on the Bench, is an inspirational/motivational novel. His books are available in hardback, paperback, and e-book format through his website, on-line booksellers and bookstores.
Mr. Cartwright has contributed to a number of articles on a wide range of financial, strategic planning, and policy topics. He frequently contributes articles, commentaries, and editorials focusing on current economic and political topics for the private think tank, Thinking Outside the Boxe.
He enjoys golf, participating in charity golf tournaments, and attending WWE events. He divides his time between Washington, D.C., South Carolina, and Florida.
Press Contact:
Website: http://www.DiggerCartwright.com
Blog: http://www.MysteryDigger.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DiggerCartwright
Twitter: @mysterydigger
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mysterydigger
Daily News Briefing: www.MysteryWriterNews.com
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Orlando, FL, Miami, FL, Myrtle Beach, SC & Washington, D.C. June 13, 2016—The office of award winning indie author Digger Cartwright announced that Conversations On The Bench was given a 4 star review and marked as “Indie Reader Approved” by Indie Reader, a preeminent venue for readers to find and purchase books written by indie authors.
An excerpt from the review from Indie Reader follows:
An account of one man’s lifetime of knowledge on how to lead a satisfying, successful and ultimately emotionally fulfilled life, divided into 25 essential lessons.
When author Digger [Cartwright] has a chance meeting with Sebastian and Robbie at a retreat at a golf course, he isn’t expecting his perception of life to be dramatically altered. And yet, after spending some time with the two men, Digger begins to overhear a hard-earned trove of information about how to lead the best possible life one can…
Digger learns lessons that include never abandoning a position of strength within one’s own relationships and learning how and when to swallow one’s pride are recorded in a third-person format; early on, Digger explains that he has decided to structure the work to best illustrate the lessons, and therefore sometimes combines stories he has heard from Robbie and Sebastian in order to construct the narrative. The result is a trove of common sense derived from a lifetime of owning a business, relating with family members, and learning how to navigate the often tricky and frustrating world of customer relationships… However, the work does ultimately capture the essence and wisdom of Sebastian, creating a lasting testament to a man who was not fooled by the false goals of material possessions and wealth, but rather the deep-seated satisfaction that comes from leading a hardworking, honest life.
CONVERSATIONS ON THE BENCH provides a warm, funny, often poignant collection of a man’s lifetime of real-world wisdom designed to benefit generations to come.
For the full review and information on the Indie Reader Discovery Awards please click here.
Conversations on the Bench received two USA Regional Excellence Book Awards (2015 & 2016) and a silver medal from Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards (2015). It was also a finalist in the Beverly Hills Book Awards (2015 & 2016) and the 10th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (2016). An excerpt from Conversations on the Bench can be viewed on Amazon.com by clicking here.
Additional information on Mr. Cartwright and his award-winning novels is available at www.DiggerCartwright.com or www.MysteryDigger.com.
About Mr. Cartwright—Digger Cartwright is the author of several mystery stories, teleplays, and novels including The Versailles Conspiracy, a modern day political thriller, Murder at the Ocean Forest, a traditional mystery novel set in the 1940s, The House of Dark Shadows, a psychological thriller, and The Maynwarings: A Game of Chance, a mystery set in the Old West. His latest book, Conversations on the Bench, is an inspirational/motivational novel. His books are available in hardback, paperback, and e-book format through his website, on-line booksellers and bookstores.
Mr. Cartwright has contributed to a number of articles on a wide range of financial, strategic planning, and policy topics. He frequently contributes articles, commentaries, and editorials focusing on current economic and political topics for the private think tank, Thinking Outside the Boxe.
He enjoys golf, participating in charity golf tournaments, and attending WWE events. He divides his time between Washington, D.C., South Carolina, and Florida.
Press Contact:
Website: http://www.DiggerCartwright.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DiggerCartwright
Twitter: @mysterydigger
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mysterydigger
Daily News Briefing: www.MysteryWriterNews.com
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Digger Cartwright 