The Wrong Answer Faster by Michael Goodkin

Author:Michael Goodkin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2012-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

Recruiting the Brain Trust

Checking my suitcase with the first-class ticket agent, I carried Razak’s briefcase on board as personal luggage. It included my usual yellow legal notepad plus a small kit for my toiletries and a fresh shirt and extra tie in the event I spotted it during the meal service. Flying nonstop from New York to Los Angeles on the enormous Boeing 707 would take a mere six hours, which struck me as remarkable. Scant years earlier, flying to Los Angeles required a change of planes midway across the country. The 707 heralded what people were calling transcon­tinental flights. Transatlantic flights were another matter. Even the 707 required a stopover in Gander, Newfoundland for refueling before flying on to London.

Having been on a plane only three times and never before on a transcontinental flight, the very notion of boarding an aircraft on one coast and not touching down until reaching the other held a whiff of glamour and adventure.

Indeed, flying anywhere was not yet common. Besides flying being expensive, Americans rarely traveled by plane. The term leisure industry had yet to be coined. When Americans did take vacations, they pretty much traveled by car on the relatively new interstate highway system and left the planes to the businessmen, such as those on my 707 in their suits and ties, along with a few ladies in fashionable dresses and high-heeled shoes.

There were no children on board. The young, pretty, and cheerful stewardess in her spiffy designer uniform who escorted me to my seat was obviously thrilled to be working such a glamorous job that enabled her, in a matter of hours, to see more of the country than most Americans see in their lifetimes.

Just before landing I shaved for the second time that day and changed into a fresh shirt. Paying so much attention to my appearance was new to me and it took an extra effort. But, just as booking a first-class ticket and living at a good address, my view was that I represented what was going to become an extraordinary company staffed with extraordinary people. Anything less would be negligent.

Not wanting a glitzy hotel like the Beverly Hills Hotel, I booked a room at the new Century Plaza. I had the rest of the day to myself because, as taught at Columbia, if I wanted to be at my best, it was important not to schedule the first meeting until the following morning.

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