Save The Tiger

Thanks to an awesome blog I newly discovered called "Letters of Note" which showcases the forgotten correspondence of the famous and not-so-famous for making the in-house correspondence of '70's Texas oilman Edward Mike Davis available online for our reading pleasure and enlightenment. In case you ever thought you had a tough boss, or were worried about mincing your words with your employees, Davis' epistolary prowess sets a new standard in management style.

 

An entire series of his vitriolic memos to staff can be enjoyed here under the heading The Tiger Oil Memos. Gives new meaning to Nelson Algren's old maxim "never trust a guy with three names."

Apparently Davis was the driver for a rich Denver family who got in good enough graces with the widow to inherit a chunk of cash when her room upstairs was ready. He parlayed that into his Tiger Oil concern at which he exercised his latent dictatorial powers. Former employees might be comforted to know that he ultimately went bust, but not before leaving behind these pearls of business school wisdom.

Too bad he never made it out to Hollywood - he could have written great dialogue for our most acerbic characters!

Enjoy!

william

Comments

[mh]

you are too hard on the guy. anyone who suggest that people match their demeanor with their outfit is my kind a guy.

[cat]

wow, what a winner. I'm stuck reading all the rest of his memo's now. Thanks for sharing!

[Diane]

Here's another great one:

http://slacktivist.typepad.com/slacktivist/2010/08/a-letter-dated-august-7.html

[Maiz]

I love the one about idle conversation. "DO YOUR JOB AND KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!"

[Diane]

I loved Jack Lemmon in "Save the Tiger". And "The Apartment" and even those silly sex comedies he did in the 60's, and naturally, or unnaturally! "Some Like it Hot". His affair with Osgood? Surely, an affair to remember. :)

[foo]

Yeah, I actually think he's got a good point and those are good expectations to have for ones employees. I was a supervisor at one time and this is exactly what I said to my employees....in my head! ha!

Today, in my own office, the bosses can't even, in the most respectful tone, inform certain employees of what they are doing wrong and how to correct it in the future without said employees whining that their boss is "being mean to them". We have raised a generation of lazy, whiny brats.