It was maybe ten years ago. My boss was selling his company. He described to me that it was a multi step sale.
Now, I had read a blog post by Robert Cringely that talked about how companies steal corporations by devaluing stock after the initial sale so that sellers miss out on most of the money they were planning on getting. I had read it maybe a few months prior and was sketchy on the details but bells and whistles were going off in my head.
I told him he should read this blog post, I'd go find it and send it right over. Then the most amazing thing happened.
I want to point out, this was the best job I'd ever had. He was, by far, the best boss I'd ever had. Unlike any other person I had ever worked for he gave me a lot of autonomy and I made him a lot of money in a very short time.
So I was kind of surprised. Rather than say, "hey, send it over", he instead began to explain to me that there was a contract, that they couldn't change the contract after the fact, etc. I said ok, that I didn't really recall the details in the article, maybe he should read it.
That's when he said no. I was very surprised and disappointed but it only lasted a minute. I'm a type A personality so I sent it to him anyway.
Much later I learned that they had agreed on three equal payments in the millions. The first payment was paid as agreed. The next was a couple hundred thousand. The last was zero.
The formula was in the contract and couldn't be changed. In fact, the purchasers only had control over one number in the formula. If you aren't strong in algebra let me just tell you outright what that means.
The purchasers had total control over the formula.
My boss had a great lawyer that didn't realize this or tell him. Maybe because he only gets paid if the deal happens.
They had a highly paid business broker who surely knew this but didn't say anything because he only gets paid if the deal happens.
Anyway, probably my worst business day ever since I obviously caused my boss to lose way more than I ever benefitted him. And unfortunately, I still have credibility problems. I would love some good advise on that!
I don't know if he considers it my fault, but he should. He is not the only person who has failed to consider my advice and lost, just the one to lose the most money. This a very often repeated theme in my life. I somehow manipulate people into not taking me seriously. I don't understand it and I don't want to believe it but its easier to believe than the alternatives.
I hope I'm not being too blunt, but you sound as if you have a strange case of imposter syndrome. You should give yourself more credit.
The word credibility was a bad choice on my part. It's hard to write a better description of myself because its embarrassing. I can be really frustrating and people frequently develop a strong feeling of disgust toward me. I'm right often, but that alone isn't the problem. Every once in a while I point out the emperor isn't wearing any clothes. Sometimes I meet people and I'm right in the middle of tearing their work to pieces and that is forever their first impression of me. It's too embarrassing to go on.
And so this can lead to a kind of occasional willful blindness on the part of people who just can't take it if I'm right yet again. I hope no one sees this since I'm going into way more detail than I had intended. I think he may have said to himself, "if he's right, he'll be able to claim to all his friends that I owe him my fortune. I can't bear that. I think I'll stick to my lawyer on this one."
I just wanted to post a story that would show how I had lost my boss a lot of money. I tell people my faults as a personal observance. I see now that the readers here are very astute and I should have either told the whole story or held my post.
Just as an aside, I think my boss was quite disgusted with the whole situation. If i recall correctly he left shortly after the second payment. He definitely didn't hold me in any greater esteem at any point. Honestly I hope he forgot that I was involved.
I would say you need to have success to think you don't deserve it, so I'm pretty sure I don't have imposter syndrome. It was awesome that you suggested it though, I'm going to make a joke about it to my wife. You have my best regards.
Not that I know you or anything, but you don't seem like a bad person or anything to me based on this ^_^;
Focus on becoming the best at something. In ten years, you will be the best (or one of the best). Then all that other stuff many people focus on will just happen naturally: fame, fortune, etc.