Tooting one's horn not always a good idea
Brian Eichenberger
Issue date: 3/31/05 Section: Opinion
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There's nothing quite like blowing one's own cover. I was an expert at doing it as a child. Enraptured in a game of hide and seek, I'd find the Holy Grail of hiding spots and be in the middle of watching the want-to-be seeker walking away, his head hung in desperate defeat, when suddenly a fit of laughter, a stupefying spell of nerves, or a bout of breathy hesitation would reveal me.
I've always been a bit of a "what you see is what you get" kind of guy - never good at keeping secrets, horrible at telling lies. I've been told that my bubbly personality is endearing, but this is the downside - sometimes I bubble over.
But as bubbalicious as I may get from time to time, I was encouraged recently to read of a fellow who helps put my loudmouth qualities into perspective. For the most part, my cover-blowing has consisted of little more than losing at card games or spoiling surprise parties. But Jamie Reidy has found that his constant talk - and writing - has landed him in water of a hotter sort.
Mr. Reidy worked for years for Pfizer, Inc., pushing pills for the older and more impotent crowd. He was good at doing what he did - so good, in fact, that he was even used to train younger sales representatives.
Like anyone who has worked for the same place for a while, though, Reidy found ways to manipulate the system. Sometimes he'd exaggerate about how many times he had visited a particular doctor's office. Other times he'd order extra food on the tabs of others at business outings so he could take home the leftovers.
It wasn't glamorous and upright maneuvering, but he was getting away with it. He eventually quit Pfizer and went to work for another employer. And that is when Mr. Reidy's loudmouth, cover-blowing qualities took over.
Evidently Mr. Reidy was pretty proud of the sneakiness he'd mastered. While working for another company, he got a book deal writing about his experiences at Pfizer.
He didn't just give tips on climbing up the corporation's ladder, though. He wrote a how-to on taking advantage of the system, and basically admitted in print that his former job was too easy and he got paid too much for doing it.
Congratulations, idiot! Way to blow your cover!
What Mr. Reidy seemed to ignore in his haste to be a published author is the reflection such confessions would have on his personal morals. The company he was working for post-Pfizer didn't find his book funny and promptly fired him. Mr. Reidy was shocked at his dismissal.
This story serves as a nice little reminder for those who, like myself, consistently find themselves getting excited about little bits of private knowledge, gossip or news. Before blabbing to the neighborhood, think about the consequences.
And for those who do blow some cover on occasion, have hope! At least you aren't as stupid as Jamie Reidy!
Brian Eichenberger is an editorial writer whose column appears Thursdays.
I've always been a bit of a "what you see is what you get" kind of guy - never good at keeping secrets, horrible at telling lies. I've been told that my bubbly personality is endearing, but this is the downside - sometimes I bubble over.
But as bubbalicious as I may get from time to time, I was encouraged recently to read of a fellow who helps put my loudmouth qualities into perspective. For the most part, my cover-blowing has consisted of little more than losing at card games or spoiling surprise parties. But Jamie Reidy has found that his constant talk - and writing - has landed him in water of a hotter sort.
Mr. Reidy worked for years for Pfizer, Inc., pushing pills for the older and more impotent crowd. He was good at doing what he did - so good, in fact, that he was even used to train younger sales representatives.
Like anyone who has worked for the same place for a while, though, Reidy found ways to manipulate the system. Sometimes he'd exaggerate about how many times he had visited a particular doctor's office. Other times he'd order extra food on the tabs of others at business outings so he could take home the leftovers.
It wasn't glamorous and upright maneuvering, but he was getting away with it. He eventually quit Pfizer and went to work for another employer. And that is when Mr. Reidy's loudmouth, cover-blowing qualities took over.
Evidently Mr. Reidy was pretty proud of the sneakiness he'd mastered. While working for another company, he got a book deal writing about his experiences at Pfizer.
He didn't just give tips on climbing up the corporation's ladder, though. He wrote a how-to on taking advantage of the system, and basically admitted in print that his former job was too easy and he got paid too much for doing it.
Congratulations, idiot! Way to blow your cover!
What Mr. Reidy seemed to ignore in his haste to be a published author is the reflection such confessions would have on his personal morals. The company he was working for post-Pfizer didn't find his book funny and promptly fired him. Mr. Reidy was shocked at his dismissal.
This story serves as a nice little reminder for those who, like myself, consistently find themselves getting excited about little bits of private knowledge, gossip or news. Before blabbing to the neighborhood, think about the consequences.
And for those who do blow some cover on occasion, have hope! At least you aren't as stupid as Jamie Reidy!
Brian Eichenberger is an editorial writer whose column appears Thursdays.
