A Familiar Stranger by McGarvey Black

Author:McGarvey Black [Black, McGarvey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books

17

While giving his inaugural speech to the advertising team in The National Spectator conference room, it was painfully evident to Eddie that he hadn’t inherited the B-team. In his estimation, the motley crew in front of him was, at best, a D-team. Despite his concerns about the quality of the staff, the battle-scarred employees around the table warmed to his inspiring words. There had been a string of incompetent and abusive publishers prior to Eddie’s arrival and their new boss was a welcome change.

“I’ve read all of your personnel files: you’re a very impressive group,” said Eddie. “I have tremendous respect for each and every one of you and the experience you bring to the party. Together, we’ll take The National Spectator to new heights of media success.”

Everyone had applauded.

“And listen up,” said Eddie with a devilish smile, “we’re going to have fun while we do it. No reason we can’t enjoy ourselves while getting the job done, right? All I ask is that each one of you be smart about your business. Do your very best and enjoy yourselves while we take over this town.”

The room full of grateful employees broke into applause and cheers. When Eddie flashed the full Gamble grin replete with dimples and a wink for emphasis, the crowd swooned. Several of the staff wondered what it would be like to sleep with him. The rest wanted to hang out with him after work and have a beer. Eddie was a hit.

As the months went by, his consistent attention to every member of the staff made each of them feel like maybe, they weren’t such losers after all. They all began to stand taller and try harder—for him.

Soon Eddie’s predictions came true. Ten months after he took over at the Spectator, revenue numbers were way up and Ken Leach congratulated himself for hiring Eddie Gamble. With an eighteen-month corporate strategy plan in place, Eddie and his team were charged with breaking a specific list of major accounts, increasing revenue by thirty percent and growing the circulation.

Under Eddie’s leadership, his team hit all their goals—except for one. Leach had been very clear during the hiring process, Eddie’s success and tenure was dependent upon him meeting all the goals. In addition to his monetary objectives, Eddie was also expected to create huge buzzworthy events around the Spectator to increase circulation at the newsstand and in supermarkets. It was a tall order for a publication that most considered a rag.

“I’m confident I can grow the circulation,” Eddie had said to Ken Leach during his interview. “It will take some creativity and a fair amount of elbow grease, but I’ll make it happen.”

“I’m glad you’re so confident,” Leach had said with one eyebrow raised, “because boosting circulation is one of the main reasons I just made you the offer. Don’t fuck it up, Gamble.”

Eddie had a modicum of experience growing circulation at Andover and Fleming having worked closely with both company’s circulation departments. He figured he’d recreate the steps he’d taken at his previous jobs and it should work for the Spectator.

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