It was my first consulting job, and I’d worked very hard for six months. However, when it came time to present my findings, I was terrified. Much of my analysis identified areas of the business that needed to improve, and I had witnessed the boss’s angry reactions to information he didn’t want to hear. A negative review from him would derail my ability to continue in this line of work.
When I’d first arranged for this job, which was for a luxury train, it seemed like a dream come true. In exchange for a branding proposal, I was allowed to observe all aspects of the business and travel with my family free of charge. The opportunity felt like a beautiful answer from God, whom I know from my study of Christian Science to be wholly good, omnipotent, and universally loving.
At first, the work was energizing; I threw myself into applying all I had just learned in business school to identify ways the company could operate better. After a few months, however, the shine wore off. Not only did I feel there were problems with the business, but the work atmosphere was almost tangibly filled with fear; employees were suspicious of one another and afraid of the boss.
