The Round That Cost Me Credibility
A few years out of college, I was working as an industrial engineer in a massive 24/7 warehouse. My days blurred into nights — timing labor studies, writing standards, building processes, chasing every opportunity to make the operation a little more efficient.
It was the kind of place that demanded everything. We worked hard, and we played just as hard. Inside the four walls, it was all business. Outside of them, it was camaraderie — and for a young, introverted engineer trying to find his footing, it felt like belonging.
After a few months, I’d built a good relationship with the Director of Operations — a sharp, driven guy who had a knack for pushing people while keeping it fun. One Tuesday afternoon in the middle of summer, he stopped by my cubicle.
“Hey Jim,” he said. “We’re heading out to play a round this afternoon. You in?”
Absolutely.
Golf — during work hours — with the leadership team? For a twenty-something engineer, this felt like a rite of passage. I packed up my laptop, thinking, I’ll catch up on my project tonight.
We played 18 holes. It was competitive, lighthearted, and the first time I felt like I was part of the inner circle. By the time I got home that night, sunburned and exhausted, I told myself I’d start my project after dinner. I didn’t.
The next morning, at 8:30 sharp, the Director called me into his office.
“Let’s go over your findings,” he said.
For a second, I smiled — thinking maybe he was joking. But his face was expressionless. The same man who bought me a beer the night before was now my boss again.
I froze. No analysis. No recommendations. Just excuses forming in my head.
He leaned back and said quietly, “Jim, extracurriculars are a privilege. If you want to keep that privilege, you’ve got to make sure your priorities never get confused.”
I wanted to say, But you invited me. I didn’t. Because he was right.
Leadership Lesson
Leadership isn’t about being invited to the table — it’s about earning the trust to stay there.
From that moment on, I never let a relationship outpace my responsibility.
