Chapter 16

1. What is the introduction you would write for your CEO

Good evening. I stand before you conflicted. We have all been given the privilege to work for this company and we strive for excellence in all our endeavors. Year after year we are tested, tried, and challenged. This year will be no different. We are the oldest firm in our industry, and as such we are under great pressure to “keep up.” Our profits are down seven percent, we just spent $15 million in new systems, and adopted new bonus programs. We will not keep up. We will surpass. We will continue to strive for excellence and we will achieve it. We are and will continue to be among Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.” The year we face will be difficult. The environment, uncertain. The challenges, numerous. but if we all pull together in the several specific areas I’ll describe, I’m confident that we will have a banner year.