The Devious Tale of June Chipmunk, Part 2

(Continued from this post)

"The Two Faces of June Chipmunk"

Rider assimilated himself well into the Countrydale store's environment. 14 associates from four departments answered to him, and any apprehension they had about losing their old manager faded away within a few weeks.

"We've never had a manager come out of his office to help us," they all said. "It makes our tummies feel good."

June Chipmunk smiled at Rider, but summarily dismissed their ridiculous claim behind closed doors. She had octagonal glasses and small eyes behind them. "They're playing you."

Rider gauged his progress as a new leader by measuring his associates' morale--which was sunny--and by the store's numbers--which hadn't slipped after the fat fuck Robbie was booted from his comfort zone.

Carmichael told Rider he was doing a good job. He had implemented marketing plans, reached out to the community, and was effortlessly driving the company's business model of keeping his associates satisfied with their leader.

All the while, June Chipmunk sat in her back office, away from the team, and smiled like a mannequin whenever Rider approached her. But inside she seethed with rage as he learned his new job and got good at it.

Rider sensed something was off with her. He hadn't yet realized how much harder he was trying with her than she was with him. He just knew they hadn't clicked as partners or as a leadership team.

He laid the foundation for his ultimate downfall when he shared too much of himself in a "hail mary" move to break through her icy exterior. He had a creative side, he told her. "I write a blog."

It's here that I ask you to read these four words again.

I write a blog.

Study those words.

Ten years ago that sentence would've sounded like nonsense, but today those four words pack a wallop.

You should never, ever, ever say those words to anyone you work with.

Because one of your coworkers could easily do what June Chipmunk did next.

Simply put: she memorized the title of Rider's blog.

On November 8, she used it against him.

A week later he was unemployed.

To be continued...