Chapter 18 — Leaving You, I Shine

I was about to press the confirmation button when the phone rang. It's Luc Dich.

"Congratulations. I heard Do Minh Vien say Thap Quang's data is very beautiful."

"Thank you. It was thanks to you initially adjusting the direction correctly that the launch was so smooth."

“Stop being modest.” He laughed, "After I'm busy this time, I'll invite you out to eat. The meal doesn't discuss work."

I paused for a moment.

“Okay.”

After hanging up the phone, I realized I accepted the invitation very quickly. So fast that it's a bit unlike me. Well, don't think about that for now. I sent a response email to Beijing, confirming my attendance. And then... Phuong Du rushed in, pointed the phone screen at my face: "Look at this!"

“See what?”

"Internal news: Co Thi - Tran Nhuoc has been demoted."

“What?”

"Co Hanh's new assistant is Tran Nhuoc. He has been on the job for less than 4 months. Today he was transferred to the Administration Department. The position of Assistant General Director is temporarily vacant."

I took his phone. This is a screenshot from Phuong Du's friend in the Planning Department, Co Thi, posted to Moments:

"Personnel changes at Co Thi: Former Assistant General Director Tran Nhuoc transferred to the Administrative Management department, the position of Assistant General Director is temporarily vacant."

Temporarily leave blank. The position I sat in for 6 years, then another person came in, I couldn't hold it for 4 months. Phuong Du clapped his hands loudly: "Are you happy? This is called retribution. In the past, he thought everyone who replaced him was the same, now can he taste it?"

“It has nothing to do with me anymore.”

"You keep being speechless. Don't you feel happy inside?"

I thought for a moment, then told the truth: "A little. But not much." Yes, a little bit. Not because his value was proven, but because - the person Co Hanh, until today has not learned how to truly appreciate the contributions of others. After 4 months, a new assistant was transferred. Has he ever thought that the problem is not with his assistant, but with himself? Anyway, this is not something I need to worry about anymore.

—

The brand strategy conference in Beijing lasted a full day. The participants are all regional directors and core partners of Tinh Than Group. I was the only person attending as an outside consultant. The conference content is very heavy: Brand network layout for the next 3 years, strategies to create distinct highlights for regions, and online-offline integration strategy. I have a 40-minute thematic report, presenting the strategic framework of 12 brands in the East China region and actual data of the first 3 months. At the end of the report, the General Director of Tinh Than Group Brand Center stood up and said:

“This strategy of the East China region is the most methodical creative cultural brand operation system I have ever seen.”

After the meeting, three regional directors came to me to exchange business cards, asking if the same methodology could be copied to their regions. I said: “Maybe, but the size of my team is currently limited, and scheduling is needed.” One of them said: "Then quickly recruit more people, our budget can't wait long." The plane landed and it was 9pm when we got home. I lay flat on the sofa. The snake plant on the windowsill still stands there quietly, its leaves are greener than they have been in 3 months before. A series of text messages jumped up on the phone. Do Minh Vien: "Headquarters evaluates you very highly. Congratulations." Phuong Du: "Are you back yet? How are you?" Luc Dich: "I heard the meeting went well?" I answer each one individually. The last message was a missed call from an unknown number. I didn't call back. Five minutes later, the text message arrived: