Incentive

Not long ago I was sitting in a client meeting, launching into an introduction of our detailed two-month project plan. "Let me ask you something," the client interrrupted. "What would it take to double the scope of this project and finish it in two weeks?"

My colleague and I exchanged nervous glances.

"Can't be done," we told him. This was a slight departure from our usual response of, "No problem. We can do it."

"What's the issue?" he asked. "Is it a resource issue, what? Can you get some more people?"

"The issue is the time-space continuum," I told him. "You could be talking to the largest firm in the world," I told him, "and they would still tell you it couldn't be done."

"What if we gave you what you're asking for in your proposal and threw a $xx,xxx incentive bonus on top of it?"

"No problem. We can do it."

So these last couple weeks my kids are fatherless, all my library books are overdue, and my weblog posts have been a little weak. But you should see the poetry we're turning out for CrapTronics Inc.

What moves you enough to keep you away from St. John's? Nothing this week, I hope. The hoops has been good, but we've missed you. So why not get your priorities back in order and make an appearance? We tip off at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, as usual.