After I had recruited a team of "cream of the crop" performers who were literally acknowledged -- world wide throughout our industry -- as the leaders in establishing the much-needed next generation of products for the industry -- I was told that I must rate those "stars" on the same "curve" used for janitors.
There was no way I could live with the rule that, if I rated one "star" "exceptional", then I must fire another.
So, after a career there for nearly twenty years, I left -- and never looked back...
As many folks in Texas were wont to say, I "saw the most beautiful sight in Texas" -- that company -- in my rear-view mirror -- for the final time...
What a shame -- for a once-great company to be viewed so scornfully -- not only by its employees -- but by the surrounding community in general.
“...that company — in my rear-view mirror — for the final time...”
I felt the same way. On my last day I was ‘checked out’ of the company, I could not say good bye to my work associates and was escorted to the parking lot. As I approached my car, I looked back and felt like a newly released prisoner just given a gray suit and $5 dolars spending money.