Page 78 - MY STORY

OUTFLANKING ETHICS

Normally I would not describe my prior Douglas boss,

Joe W, as shifty, devious, or unethical but this came pretty
close. TIMET had placed me on the west coast to handle

all their technical support and marketing with lots of
travel, lots of talk about new products, some fun in
helping to solve problems in the design and fabrication of
titanium products, but – also a feeling of being an outsider

since a marketing/tech services person is typically never
in the mainstream of new developments taken to

completion. Joe knew this because he had the same kind
of a job when he left Douglas for a few years. I also knew
that my growth in the company would require me to take

an even broader role in marketing and tech services with a
resulting increase in travel and time away from family. It
might force a decision to choose between family and job

– they could be mutually exclusive. Ultimately Joe
wanted me to come back to work for him at Douglas but
felt it might be somewhat unethical to make a direct play

for me.

So, what did he do? He made contact with my family!

He patiently explained (to them) that it would be to their
benefit if I would accept a job in his department. After all,