The CEO wants this to happen

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Defcon five. The CEO — a propos the cult of personality attending all large organisations, referred to at all times by only his Christian name — so “Lloyd”, or “Chuck”, or “Jamie” — is a personal friend of the fund manager and is fully behind this transaction and wants it to happen.

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure.

If you hear this phrase you need to go code red, counselor. There is no greater sign that all is not well:

• either it’s a lie, which tells you all you need to know about the bona fides of the salesperson who just said it.
• or it’s true, in which case you can be sure any judgment or circumspection the salesperson might have otherwise brought to the task will have evaporated like dawn mist in the high mountains, and he will stop at nothing to get the job done, no matter how much of his own or the firm’s dignity he must sacrifice to do it.

It won't be true. Of course, except in the vaguest possible way. There is no way the CEO will know or care about any of the details, or have more than a passing acquaintance with the client with whom the transaction is being executed.

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