Warren looks hard at me and says, "So, you can actually manage, as well as do technical work."
I lecture, "I can design, develop and test computer software. I can sell my computer software to business managers and technical people. I make no claim, about being able to sell used cars. Once I have my software sold, I can assemble and manage a group of skilled support people. Along the way, I get feedback, from customers about other possible needs. You have no one else, on staff, who can do all of that."
Warren leans back and smiles, "So, you don't need any help."
I laugh, "Quite to the contrary. I need and use the help of the software engineers that I hire. I need the help of the hardware techs that I hire. Hell, I even need the help of Diana, my Secretary. What I don't need is some used car salesman, who thinks that he can run my project better than I can."
Warren laughs, "So, you see the need for a team."
I lecture, "You get the spotlight as an all star, you win with a team. I'm going to win. The Lozenge Corporation is going to win."
Warren smiles, "Yes, a team is important."
(I suddenly realize, with a shock, that I'm not a member of Warren's team. I'm not a politician. Warren is a politician. Only politicians are really a part of Warren's team. I can see danger for me.)
I wrap up with Warren and I go back to running my project.
On Friday, my people can't get into the computer lab that's reserved for our use. There is some large, nasty oaf in there.
I call for the rent a guards and they extract oaf and march him into Personnel.
The Personnel lady doesn't really know what to do.
Warren joins the party.
I tell Warren, "I have reserved a computer lab for the use of me and my people. This morning, I find oaf in the computer lab, where he has no business. I don't need trouble. Oaf goes, permanently, or I go permanently."
The Personnel lady, Warren, oaf and oaf's Manager then go into the personnel lady's office. I am not invited. After a bit, Warren, oaf and oaf's Manager exit the Personnel lady's office.
Warren says, "The trouble maker will go.
The oaf's Manager and the oaf just glare at me.
I then get called into Warren's office.
Warren says, "What happened was a test of you. You did get the problem solved, but at a cost. You might think of a better way to handle such problems."
I ask Warren, "Then you think that other managers will send in an oaf to hamper my work?"
Warren snorts, "No, but you have made an enemy."
I ask, "The Manager who sent in the oaf was not already my enemy?"
Warren thinks for a moment, "Yes, the Manager was already your enemy. However, the next Manager who wants to test you will have the argument that you are too touchy to be a Manager."
I laugh, "Not to worry, I can handle it."
(At lunch, I stop at a run down toy store and purchase a nasty toy.)
After work, the oaf that I got fired is in my face, out in the parking lot. Oaf says, "I was only doin' what my Manager told me to do. I'm gonna mess you up!"
I pull a very realistic toy gun from my pocket and tell oaf, "First you need to talk to my friend here."
Oaf looks at what he thinks is a gun and backs off.
I lecture oaf, "Your former Manager sent you on a suicide mission. That should tell you what value your former Manager places on you. If that doesn't tell you, your first attempt to get another job will tell you."
About this time, a couple of rent a guards arrive, on the trot.
Oaf tells the rent a guards, "He threatened me with a gun, that's against the law."
One of the rent a guards takes oaf into custody, as we hear sirens in the nearby...