So, I had another client termination – a scarier one. I had worked with Aretove for about 4 years. I met the CEO once in a while at a shared office space in Piscataway. Occasionally, there were some minor disagreements, but nothing that would indicate any serious issues. About 6 months ago, I indicated that the website needed improvement because it did not match what I was saying to people or giving any indication of what I had been speaking of in terms of services. That was the first major time he said I was negative. Please note: I was negative because the website was not moving the lead process forward.
On Monday February 24, I was invited to the new office in New York City to meet the team he recently hired and discuss marketing – specifically to continue a brief phone call we had to foster introductions and discuss messaging. There was general agreement among the team that some major work needed to be done on corporate identity (the story) and messaging. Because I am not good at navigating in the city, the CEO graciously offered to pick me up and drive me to the office. After a rather expensive lunch at the World Trade Center, which was to honor my presence – a presence highly discussed and talked about often – we went back to the office….and that is where things went off the rails.
I and two marketing team members sat in a small room and discussion flowed. We talked about what we do, how we do it, a bit about obstacles we all faced – nothing out of the ordinary. We all quickly realized that we are a great complementary team and in working together we could do better with lead gen. The girl who likes research could feed me more targeted info to enhance my discussions, etc. Nothing that I hadn’t done myself. We shared some observations about the CEO also and concerns, nothing crazy, just comparing notes – as girls do with sizing up people. We took a trip to the ladies room….and all hell broke loose.
I came back to a larger conference room. We started discussions. I indicated that before we talk about messaging, we uncovered other areas that can help improve lead gen. I mentioned what we discussed and how it would work. When I say – Satan emerged – Satan emerged.
What ensued was not a productive ‘screaming’ match. The CEO took over the conversation, allowing no collaborative discussion. He not only shut down any collaborative team lead gen ideas, but threatened everyone with termination…”if you don’t like your job – there’s the door” and “you can leave right now to talk to HR about your role”. He stated “I respect you Rachel, but what is your contract notice – 2 weeks? I think we should enact that”. He said marketing was crap, branding was shit, and told one of the team members to “not say anything anymore” (shut up). He controlled everything….if you did not agree with HIS thinking or what HE said, he did not want to hear it. He was vicious. I mentioned how what was proposed was done at Hexaware – a company his should ASPIRE to be. He said Hexaware was shit and nothing like his firm (Hexaware is a leading mid-market global integrator with 664 million in revenue – he should only wish). Both girls looked like they were going to cry. He pointed out the “face one made” and noted that “he could get cheap offshore resources to do research”. I just shook my head in disbelief, with my stomach getting more upset by the minute. He ended the meeting an hour early and would not let us have any kind of alone team debrief or discussion – “that would not be a good idea”. At some point, I even requested that he leave the room, so we could collaborate and present ideas to him…negativo on that. There was more…a lot more…he denigrated and humiliated everyone in that room – demoralizing everyone.
As we left the parking garage, on the road – remember – he drove me there. I said very nicely that the last time I sat in a meeting like that – the company couldn’t make payroll in six months. (The company was CAMO – the same situation happened, “The President of this small company – Moshe Naimi” did not listen to a damn thing I or the salesguy (his friend too) said and told me to shut up in a meeting along with Paul – whatever his name is “the rude” – who cared more about the fact I said “Hello” instead of “good morning” when greeting him. Moshe did such a great job, the company went into bankruptcy – round 1 and did not make payroll – shortly after that meeting.) He took that not as a educative admonishment but as finger pointing saying he is headed that way. Which I am fairly certain the company is.
I was fired in the car – because I was so negative about the company, negative about him and because I was restructuring his company. (After he graciously chauffered me and took me to lunch). I went out of bounds for my role. Luckily, since I was fired – I let him have it – calling him out on his lack of leadership, knowledge of sales/marketing (which was more than obvious and evident), poor handling in the meeting, his abusive demeanor…I told him everything I should have said to Moshe Naimi, Marc Gonzer (who retired), Keith Huntoon – and all the other morons I had the pleasure of working for and with over the last 20 years…14 as MagnusMG. He threatened to drop me off at an exit and call an Uber, if I did not stop talking. At one point he said, “you shouldn’t talk to the CEO that way” to which I said, “Well, technically I own MagnusMG and, although I have no employees, I am CEO as well – so…”. That felt good to say. It has been so long since I had an abusive boss, I actually forgot what one acted like.
I went out of bounds for my role – glad to know he viewed me as a phone monkey and that cheap offshore people could do real sales intelligence…(remember, I set up and ran a sales intelligence practice – I know research). I even said, I had recruiters coming after me for Chief Marketing Officer roles – he said “good, I support you – you should do that”. So , I thought you have a CMO who can build your marketing and lead gen and you have no interest in listening to what I have to say?
I never understand how these companies survive.
He agreed that he was a bad manager and acknowledged everything I said, but said – well – I can’t change. An even scarier proposition.
I wonder if his co-founders have an inkling of his personality.
I am glad to be done with another loser of a client….
I work with tiny companies, it is hard to tell what will emerge as they grow – the latter half of 2019 to now has been nothing but unending disappointment for me.
Let’s hope the new bunch of clients works out better. Maybe I will find the next Google. Yeah…wishful thinking.
On the bright side, MagnusMG has outlasted many clients and former employers – many of whom gone out of business, changed management, or are a shade of what they were – or worse yet, what they could have been.