Much like sex; every generation thinks they are the first to discover some work place personalities or situations that defy reason. An Upcycled Self has many characters and situations from work experiences to learn from or turn into anecdotal answers for employer and client questions or that first novel we keep meaning to write!
One standard, tired and unimaginative, interviewer question is “Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult colleague or situation”. Interview preparation lists suggest following a model of Situation, Task, Action and Response answering to show how wonderful you are and able to cope with any and all eventualities like Donald Trump as an immediate supervisor, Rob Ford as an employee or Kanye and Justin Bieber as colleagues. When hearing the question again and again I have been tempted to use the following for an answer!
Thank you; Oh…yes a difficult colleague…
YIKES, the Situation: A “Developing Economy” Capital City in the 1980’s pitching new transportation equipment to the Military; I was responsible for researching and answering financing questions about any lease or direct purchase options along with “The General”, our local representative who was certifiably NUTS! A retired Senior Military Officer, as many were, right out of Hollywood casting for a Quentin Tarantino film villain. Larger than life, extremely aggressive personality; he drove a high-powered “engine enhanced” car at break neck speeds ignoring all other road users, stop lights, signs, or one way entry indicators. After our first day I carefully asked what precautions he took spending so much time in a busy city on the road, he showed me the Nickel-Plated Magnum 44 he kept under the driver’s seat as his insurance, negotiation and accident strategy! To make things more interesting he refreshed himself with a mix of Cognac and Coca Cola throughout most of the day between meetings.
Tasks in priority order:
- Stay alive and out of hospital.
- Visiting and presenting information to various government and military officials.
Action to Survive Alive: Being very well prepared for each meeting and running an ongoing briefing in the car to keep us on task, him focused and not thirsty. Prayer helped along with closing my eyes in the car, having the Canadian embassy number with me (pre-cell phone days) and being extremely polite so the Magnum 44 stayed out of sight!
Result(s):
- I lived!
- The sale negotiations continued.
- He told my boss I was great to work with.
- I always packed lots of extra underwear for future trips.
Now, should I also talk about the “Flying Pirate”?
Upcycled Self 
This is absolutely a great post! Congratulations Brian. I’m looking forward to read your next history.
Scary at the time but a good example of the unexpected you could encounter!
Brian this is hilarious!! One of the many advantages to your experience is the priceless anecdotes you will be able to whip out in an interview – to inform OR entertain.
Well done!
Just as long as I do not scare the interviewer, or they think I am totally crazy. Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction.
Awesome story Brian, best line ever “…and being extremely polite so the Magnum 44 stayed out of sight!”. It did remind me of Pulp Fiction a little bit, thankfully there were no accidental head-shots due to speed bumps while driving, so you’re good!
I traveled globally extensively from 1984 to 1998 and met some very interesting characters!
Great post brian, sounds like your well traveled and you’ve been through some things. You know what they say “Hennessey and enemies is one hell of a mixture” cheers Brian till the next post!
Thank you; not to mention the Magnum!
Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction, and far more interesting!
Is this for real? Haha it’s always the crazy situations that make great stories. Now you have something to share with us and we learn how to deal with those situations haha. Great post Bri!
Thank you: yes for real…with a little embellishment. I even left out some good stuff!
Great story Brian! Sounds pretty stressful but also halarious. Glad you made it out alive!
Jodi,
Thank you; some of my former life was focused on intense periods of international work where I had various responsibilities in Asia, Parts of Africa, Latin America, The Middle East and post USSR Europe. I had a chance to meet and work with some great people and some real characters. And yes there were a few places I was very glad when my departing plane left the ground!