For years I had the standard executive equipment — a secretary. Most of them are very good. Then I used the Man from Mars approach. Then I didn’t have a secretary. Here’s my analysis:
TRIPS
Before: One of my close associates had a great secretary. Whenever he called in from out of town to get or leave messages, she was “away from her desk.” And when he came back, she would have all the mail and memos and appointments spread out so he couldn’t find his desk for two days.
After: When I called in, the telephone operators had my messages. The mailroom also had a rubber stamp: “I’m away. Please handle this in your own style and don’t tell me what you did. Thanks. R.C.T.” They’d open the mail, stamp it, route it appropriately. When I got back — clean desk.
