She grins back, her eyes twinkling. “Well, after all those late-night study sessions and endless cups of coffee during your time at Harvard, I'd say you've earned it.”
“Speaking of Harvard,” I say, my shoulders squaring with pride, “I think all those lessons on business strategy and management are going to come in handy now. I just hope I remember everything.”
“Of course you will!” Sarah reassures me, giving me a light pat on the shoulder. “You were a celebrity in the halls of Harvard. Everyone knew you were destined for greatness, and now here you are, ready to lead Legacy Inc. into a new era.”
“Thanks. It's just... everything I've worked towards has led me to this moment, and I don't want to mess it up, you know?”
“Hey,” she looked me straight in the eye, “you've got this. You're more than ready, and everyone here knows it. Now, let's go show them what you're made of!”
“Alright. Let's do this!”
I have been coming to this place since seven-years-old. Many of the employees have met me over the years. Even as a freelancer, I still visit to stay up to date with whom is here, and see if there is anything I need to be aware of before taking over. The business is thriving, according to my father, and my only need is to make it even better. Find a way to make us more profitable and take us to a new level.Here goes nothing.
As we walk through the halls towards my father's old office, there is a sense of awe at the sheer scale of the operation I am now responsible for. “This just seems so surreal. Remember when we used to talk about this all the time?”
“Keep your head up and go in there and make your mark, Mr. Myers,” she replies, a warm smile spreading across her face.
I step into the cavernous office, its walls lined with empty shelves upon shelves.
“Hey, odd one out,” a voice calls from behind. I turn to see my older brother, Daniel, leaning against the doorframe, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
What in the world is he doing here? Probably to rub something in my face or say some snide comment about how I got here.
“To what do I owe this pleasure? Shouldn’t you be busy with cases or something?”
“Couldn't miss my little brother's first day as CEO. Besides, I had to make sure you're not planning on turning Legacy Inc. into a clown college.”
“Ha, hilarious.”
“Relax, Dixon,” Daniel says, seeming to pick up on my unease. “You're going to do great.”
“I just want to make everyone proud, you know? Prove that I can do this.”
“Trust me,” Daniel assures me, clapping a hand on my shoulder before leaving, “you've got this.”
The office seems so much bigger now that it’s empty. The longer I stand in silence, the more my thoughts cripple me with doubt. I’m now responsible for thousands of employees, each depending on me to steer the company toward success. The pressure is immense, but I refuse to buckle beneath it.
My father already has a meeting scheduled for this morning. He says it’s important for me and morale to meet with the directors and managers early on to show them my dedication and vision. He’s right. It is important that everyone in the company trust me to lead, but most know my background.
Lucy pops her head inside. “Sir, you have about ten minutes until the meeting starts. Everyone is already in the conference room.”
“Thanks. Be right there.”
This meeting needs to go off without a hitch. I can’t go messing things up on my first day here. There are so many things I need to catch up, but being upfront and approachable is important in any business. Walking into the room, it’s filled to the brim. Some aren’t even sitting. All eyes are on me. I wipe the sweat from my brow and walk to the front of the room.
“Alright, team, we've got a lot of work ahead of us. But I know that together, we can tackle any challenge and continue to build on the incredible legacy my father started.”
Heads nod around the table. It is clear they are waiting to see if I can fill my father's shoes.
“Let's start by addressing our biggest ongoing project,” I continue, my voice steady and confident as I outline the plan for the upcoming quarter. With each detail I provide, the roomseems to relax. This presentation is one my father prepared knowing I wouldn’t have enough time to prepare my own.
As the meeting draws to a close, I look around the room to see so many familiar faces. “Thank you all for your time. Now let's get to work.”
I just finished my first executive meeting as CEO of Legacy Inc., and despite the lingering doubts about being prepared, it went good. With every step down the corridor, my confidence grows stronger.
“Mr. Myers,” a timid voice calls out. Glancing over, I see Janice, the company's receptionist, approaching. “I just wanted to say how excited we all are to have you here. You're doing an amazing job already! You've got big shoes to fill, but there's no doubt in my mind that you can do it.”
“Thanks, Janice. That means a lot.”
