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met with my boss every Monday to discuss the week's work, and finally one day I had to speak to him about the bad effect his goofing off had on the division's morale. It was difficult for both of us, and being very rank conscious, he didn't like what he considered my uppity attitude. After several arguments and a fast-deteriorating relationship, I told him I was forced to go to the company's vice president. Of course, although I was within my rights, whatever was left of our relationship disappeared.

Here's where politics came in, and even to this day, I'm still not sure if I was a rat who bit the hand of the guy who hired me. The vice president happened to know the situation, and had often praised me for my efforts and creativity. I had written speeches for the executive, and had coached him on his appearances at conferences.

I knew, when I went to see him with my gripe, right or wrong, he was absolutely on my side. The result was that my boss was transferred, without a loss in rank, to a new unit of the company. It was ironic that his new job consisted almost entirely of visiting field offices throughout the country, always traveling first class, staying at luxury hotels and eating like a king. He retired about five years later, and often thanked me for getting him the posh job. Do I feel bad about sabotaging him? Yes, sometimes. That doggone traveling job should have been mine!

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
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