Comments

'Take a freak to lunch today' is a great expression Shelley.

I recall Dave a colleague manager I worked with in healthcare here in the UK 15 years ago who was a keen cyclist and proud owner of an expensive racing bike.

In his first week with us he chained his bike to a radiator in the corridor outside the office of the Chief Executive where we were all gathered for a meeting.

He came into the meeting in his track suit, trainers and sweat band and was carrying a 'Tesco' supermarket bag that contained his paperwork for the meeting.

The rest of us in our smart boring corpoate black suits and ties and immaculate brief cases looked on with interest as you can imagine.

He created quite an impression and stayed with us two years or so till he got fed up with 'stuffiness and rules' and not surprisingly he left.

In those two years however he changed things dramatically and made a real impression. Always challenging the status quo - he made work an intreresting palce to be. The staff generally loved his 'eccentricity' as they called it - to me it was simply 'pushing the edges.'

I liked Dave - sadly I lost track of him and I sometimes wonder where he is now - probably back packing at 60 years of age across Australia or simething similarly interesting whilst most of the 'black suits' are still 'enjoying' writing reports and towing the corporate line.

By the way ... the Chief Executive was not amused and got the hospital porter to cut the chain and remove the bike .... SAD DON'T YOU THINK?

Posted by Trevor Gay at April 22, 2005 4:51 AM

The freaks should take US to lunch - better economics - they pay and they learn to navigate corporate culture.

Posted by Sean at April 22, 2005 8:36 AM

Great answer Sean!

Posted by Trevor Gay at April 22, 2005 1:04 PM

This book, Freakonomics, is actually a very interesting read. I don't really know anything about economics, but I found myself reaching for it last night instead of the novel I'm reading.

Fortunately, none of the teachers I know are like the sumo wrestlers described in the book! I found the section on real estate agents the most eye-opening.

Posted by Paughnee at April 28, 2005 4:41 PM

Learn to navigate corporate culture?

There's not much to learn. If you went through high school you have all the tools you need.

Posted by perianwyr at April 29, 2005 9:22 AM

I bought Freakonomics last week. I think it is a pretty cool book. I haven't read the entire book yet, but from what I have read I realize that nothing is as it seems.

JLP

Posted by JLP at April 29, 2005 11:53 PM

I'm a freak, and always available for lunch.

Posted by James Hathaway at May 6, 2005 9:35 PM