Page 215 - MY STORY

when to came “chain of command” provisions for

funding R&D, capital funding, and report or proposal
approval.

There were only a few very senior managers that could
review our plans and approaches for the use of company
funds and capture of contracted work. Our monthly oral

progress reports were conducted in a secure environment
usually with the company president in attendance.

“SOMETIMES THE DRAGON WINS ”
Like many managers, I pictured myself as “God’s gift to

leadership” and there was no problem, technical or human
that was not amenable to solution. Man, was I wrong! I
will not use names here because the focus of this vignette
is still alive, kicking and probably as litigious as ever. No,

I really cannot go into detail – it would take up too much
space. But the whole affair reminded me of a cartoon that

depicts a scene where a dragon, picking his teeth, is
lounging under a shade tree near a moated medieval castle.
Scattered around the reclining dragon and the tree were

remnants of a knight’s uniform – pieces of armor, a sword,
metal helmet with visor, battle flag, whatever. The caption
under the cartoon was “Sometimes the Dragon Wins.” It

reminded me of my failures as a leader, mentor, trainer,