Critical Chain - Eliyahu M. Goldratt [75]
"I know," Mark murmurs. Then, gathering his courage, he looks into Isaac's eyes and says, "There will always be some loose ends."
When Isaac doesn't answer, Ruth adds, "When are we going back to our regular jobs?"
Isaac turns to Fred, "Do you have a question as well?"
"Yes," he says. "We were promised that if we succeeded we would get ten thousand shares each. What are the criteria for our success?"
"Ten thousand shares each is a lot of money," Isaac answers. "Do you think that you earned it?"
They don't answer. He continues. "Are you willing to gamble that your method works? Always? In how many cases have we checked it? From start to finish, not even once. If you were developing a modem, would you accept it as a final product? At the stage that we are now it's only a promising prototype. Don't ask me what the criteria are. You know. You know when something can be declared good enough."
"I think we would like to have a more tangible target," Ruth says quietly. "I know I would."
"I cannot commit to any numbers, but I can tell you that when it's clear that your method is going to become the norm in our company, you have definitely delivered. Is that good enough for you?"
"It's good enough," Mark says firmly. He looks at the others. They nod.
"You said there are no budget limitations," Fred reminds Isaac. "Can we hire the help of our professor? I don't think it's fair to continue to use Professor Silver's kindness, and we need more of his time."
"Sure, good idea. Offer him the standard consulting fee, a thousand dollars per day. Does three days a month sound about right?"
"Will do," Mark answers for the three of them.
"Anything else you need, think tank? Fine. Keep up the good job and continue to keep me posted."
Mark's phone call has me feeling giddy. Laughing, I head downtown. I'll find Judith a real Valentine's Day present in the jewelry store. Tonight, for once, my wife will get a gift she deserves. Finally.
Well, easier said than done. I don't know much about jewelry, and the saleswoman in the store isn't much help, although she tries. She even models the jewelry for me. But Judith has thick golden hair, high cheekbones and a beautiful long neck, and this lady...
I think I've seen every piece of jewelry in the store at least four times. Finally, still hesitant, I make my decision. Just to be on the safe side, I also go and buy a box of the fanciest chocolates I can find.
After Judith and I finish dinner, we go into the living room. That's when I give her present to her. Not the chocolate, the earrings.
She doesn't have to tell me how much she likes them. Her blue eyes tell it all. They glitter now, like the aquamarines that dangle from her ears. She truly loves them.
When we sit down, I start to tell her about the consulting job with Genemodem.
"Another three thousand dollars a month," Judith jumps to her feet. "Darling, that's a fortune."
My ears prevent my smile from becoming even broader.
"I told you that you'll manage." Judith starts to dance around. "I told you that if the university doesn't have the sense to appreciate you, others will."
I sink deeper into the couch. "Yes, you did," I admit.
"How much do you make now from consulting? More than from teaching?" She closes her eyes and starts to slowly turn around and around with her arms spread out. "And next year, when more companies find out about my brilliant husband, we'll have nothing to worry about."
I wish she were right.
She takes one look at me and stops spinning. "Darling, I'm sorry. I know how much you love teaching, but only last month you told me that consulting is a form of teaching. Isn't it?"
"Depends on how one does it."
"The way you do?"
"I think I can be happy with this type of work, but . . ."
She sits down next to me. "What's the problem, darling?"
"Next year I'll be out of the university," I start