Canceled House Bonus? Fine, I'm Done Standing Out
According to company policy, anyone who achieves the feat of being the top salesperson for three years in a row will receive a thousand-square-foot apartment as a bonus.
To achieve this goal, I work day and night, chasing every order I can find. But once I finally meet the criteria, I'm told that the policy has been abolished.
Saul Hurst, my direct superior, brushes me off with a bonus of 500 dollars instead. Smirking at me, he says, "Being good at sales is all well and good, but you still need to improve your understanding of the company's rules and values.
"Young people need to stay humble and know their place. Don't keep trying to show off. It isn't good to constantly hog the spotlight."
I don't lose my temper. Instead, I manage to stay unusually calm as I took the "massive bonus" I got in exchange for three years of hard work.
Two days later, our company headquarters conducts its annual sales evaluation.
When one of our clients offers me a sales deal worth eight million dollars, I turn it down on the spot. After all, I believe that part of what it means to be professional is to do as my superior says.
Since I'm supposed to stay humble and know my place, I've chosen to keep a low profile and not do anything that puts me under the spotlight.
Besides, even if our branch fails to meet the total sales target, I'm not the one who's going to be held accountable for that.