I have my first job.  I’m also engaged to be married.  I dig into my first work assignment.

My first work assignment is something of a strange one.  There are computers in San Diego that perform vital services.  Unfortunately, the computers are obsolete units and will soon be replaced with a new generation of computers.

I could just lean on my shovel and wait for the new generation of computers to arrive.  Instead, what I do is to contact the current users and find out what the current users see as weaknesses in the current computers and software.

I begin to update some current software and also to talk with the developers of the new generation of computers.  I can’t get a lot of information, as the development process is secret.  However, I do get information as to what sort of improvements of the current computers and software might prove useful, when the new generation of computers arrive.

I stay in contact with the current users and show them that I’m working hard and learning what will be useful, when the new generation of computers arrive.

Along with my hard work, Aileen stays in contact with the wives of some of the executives, at my company, and also in contact with some of the female executives.

When I have enough improved software, I want to offer upgraded software suites to existing users of the current computers.

To my surprise and puzzlement, Denny, my boss doesn’t want me to offer the upgraded software suites.

The big boss, however, has talked with some of the people who have seen my internal staff demos of the new, upgraded software suites.  The big boss wants me to offer the upgraded software suites to our customers.

(Apparently, there is a major battle between the big boss and Denny, about offering the upgraded software suites.  I stay completely out of the battle and l keep trying to improve the current software suites.  After too much time, I get orders, directly from the big boss, to offer the upgraded software suites to our customers.)

Denny calls me into his office and tells me, “Well, you won this time.”

I tell Denny, “I have no idea as to what I won this time.”

Denny snarls, “You convinced the big boss to let you offer the upgraded software suites to our customers.”

I tell Denny, “Except for a very few meetings, where you were there, I have had no direct communication with the big boss.”

Denny then snarls, “Okay, how did the big boss find out about your fancy software upgrades?”

I lecture, “As assigned, from time to time, I did demos for our internal staff.  It might be that one of the people that I did a demo for, reported the matter to the big boss.  I have no idea.”

Denny says, “I think that what you are doing is a waste of time.”

“I do what I’m assigned.  The results of my work are sometimes improvements to the existing software.  If the company furnishes upgrades to the existing software, we stay in contact with the customers.  Staying in contact with the customers has to be a good move for the company.”

Denny says, “Yeah, well, I don’t like it.”

(My direct boss doesn’t like what I’m doing.  The big boss likes what I’m doing.  I’m caught in a trap.)

I have orders, directly from the big boss, to offer my upgraded software suites to our customers.  I do what I’m ordered to do.

My direct boss is angry.  My big boss is happy with what I’m doing.  My customers are happy with what I’m doing.

One day, the big boss goes on vacation.  The same day, I’m called in and fired, by my direct boss.

My world comes tumbling down.  I find that I can’t get another job in San Diego, in fact, I can’t even get interviews.

Without my paycheck, Aileen and I can’t make the mortgage payments on our house.

I’m still in contact with the developers of the new generation of computers.  I find that I have a good reputation with the developers, perhaps at least partially due to the improvements I’m generating for the users of the older computer systems.