They offered him more money than he’d ever thought he’d earn in a year to stay. He was flattered and told them so. It was too late.
He hadn’t given them everything, but over the last 20 years he’d given them more than the majority of his peers. He would have given more, but no one had listened. Nobody was asking for ideas, there was no place to submit them, so he sat on his. He figured they were his biggest contribution to the company, but they didn’t come to light until it was too late.
After he’d submitted his resignation to his boss, he wrote a letter to the President and CEO. He’d explained his thoughts on the company’s future and thanked them for the opportunity. He was himself: polite, professional, non-descript. Neither responded.
On his second to last day, the President called and asked him if he’d be willing to expand upon his ideas. They had a pleasant chat that lasted two hours. He didn’t think anything more of it. He’d enjoyed the chance to share his ideas, but that was that.
The next morning the Vice President of HR called with an offer that would quintuple his pay and grant him a powerful new title. He was grateful, but declined. He’d made a commitment and he didn’t turn his back on those.
The President and CEO both called him in the afternoon begging him to stay. He was polite, but steadfast in his refusal. He had a code.
He spent a pleasant weekend with his family. The children laughed in the yard. The fading sunlight caught his wife’s hair and he fell in love with her all over again. There was no talk of work.
On Monday, he went to work at his old company’s largest competitor.
