CREATIVE DISMISSAL
YOU CAN BANK ON THAT BOOK 2
by
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Chapter 1 The lunch had gone well right up to the time when Leslie’s competitor and close friend started discussing “creative dismissal”, a practice in vogue with Senior Management for getting rid of higher paid Branch Managers. At that point Leslie lost his appetite. Brad, his lunch mate was only trying to forewarn him based on recent experiences his fellow Managers in the CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) had been put through. It was a typical midweek lunch meeting between two Branch Managers of competing Financial Institutions on the one hand CIBC, a federally chartered Bank and on the other a provincially chartered Caisse Populaire which is basically a Credit Union with Members. Both companies compete for the same business and normally competitors don’t associate with each other. But in this case, both Leslie and Brad had met long ago at Chamber of Commerce luncheon meetings. What had started out as casual conversation at the food counter had eventually became a friendship based on mutual respect. On this particular day, they had met for lunch at a popular Eatery operated by none other than the Mayor of North Bay, Mr. Kevin Ghattas, one of Leslie’s client’s at the Caisse Populaire. Mayor Ghattas came over to their table as soon as they arrived and said: “Well, well, the two worst Bank Managers in North Bay are gracing my humble restaurant.” I winked at my friend and said:” You know Kevin, us two guys are pretty popular in town. Pretty high profile. We’re actually thinking one of us should challenge you in the next election for that prestigious Mayor’s job of yours….” We saw him lose his composure for a nanosecond and then we all started to laugh at the same time. “You guys, go and eat and leave me alone…. Hahaha!…”
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About the Book
Disappointing former clients But I was quickly learning that maybe I should rethink about how I want to spend my time. North Bay was besieged with Life Insurance Agents, Investment Agents and the competition was fierce. I had a former Commercial client that I’d set up in business years previous. I’d seen him through some rough periods as he established himself against the North Bay competition in his field. Now that I was no longer the Manager of the Bank (Caisse) he begrudgingly agreed to let me do a proposal to him and his Common Law spouse over which I laboured for many hours. One night I made the presentation to them. At one point he appeared to be wanting to look macho and protecting his gal pal from the big bad Investment Companies. I was told: “We’ll get back to you”. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?? A few days later my former and unappreciative Bank client called me and told me that he had Robert Dick, another Investment Counsellor who worked for Investors Syndicate had reviewed my in-depth presentation and tore it to pieces, and came up with a better plan. “Of course he did”, I said. “Whaddya mean, Leslie?” he asked. I said: “It doesn’t take much talent to take some one else’s work and do a major critique of it especially if the end result is you will receive a commission cheque. He will put you and your girlfriend into the flavour of the month that earns him the biggest bucks. My plan was taking into account your spouse’s obvious risk aversion. Anyway you go with Mr.Dick and let me know in a year or to if you are ahead or behind. Anyway, thanks for letting me offer you my company’s service and our personalized plan and I wish you the best. No hard feelings.” He seemed quite embarrassed momentarily, but I grabbed his hand shacked it and walked away feeling good about the encounter.
About the Author
The author is a retired Bank Manager, currently a Mortgage Specialist processing residential, Commercial, Agricultural and Recreational Mortgages. He also writes a Monthly Op-Ed with a circulation of over 20,000 locally in a well read monthly magazine. Besides that he is a Board Member and the Treasurer of a local non-profit service that provides specialized progammes to disadvantaged youth, and Senior Citizens. He also likes to write Books (this is his third) and will continue to do so until they plant him in the ground. More books to follow if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.