924 – Getting Access to Important People
Camile: That is a really good idea.
Nathan: Thanks, but there’s no way I can get past all of the gatekeepers in this company to get access to the president. He’s the only one who can green-light a project like this.
Camile: Can’t you present it to your boss first?
Nathan: If I bring the idea to my immediate supervisor, she’ll either take it over or nix it.
Camile: What you need to do is to get the ear of one of his advisors and do an end-run around the other managers.
Nathan: I’m not sure how I can do that. I don’t know any of the advisors in the president’s inner circle. We don’t exactly travel in the same circles, you know.
Camile: How’s your jump shot?
Nathan: Why do you ask?
Camile: My cousin works at the same gym where that the company president goes to exercise. Sometimes he likes to play a game of pick-up basketball, often one-on-one. If you got a call from my cousin when he’s there, you might be able to be get there quickly and be in the right place at the right time.
Nathan: You mean talk business on the courts?
Camile: Sure, isn’t that how real deals get made?
Nathan: You might have an idea there.
Camile: Yes, but one piece of advice: Let him win!