Checkmate, by Tatiana – In The Mix #19

May 14, 2009 Tatiana EL-Khouri 4 Comments

If you meet me, it’s likely you will think I’m a friendly, cordial individual. I’ve been told I’m well-mannered, polite, and a joy to be around. Some say I’m like a character from my beloved Disney movies. But the truth is, like us all I also have a dark side. When I reach threshold, my dark side is quick to rear it’s ugly head in a swift attempt to rectify the situation.

Four months ago I was crossed. I called MOTU with an uncharacteristic rant, to which he listened politely. I could tell later he was amused. My anger was over a situation which had been growing for over a year. I decided I had enough and was going to resolve it in a very uncharacteristic way, which no surprise to me was supported by MOTU. His exact words, I don’t use, but let’s just say it dealt with destroying them and then going after their families. Except he said it in exactly four words, you do the math.

I was delighted to have his support and ready to implement my plan of destruction until he said, “Wait- now is not the time to do it.” Then he said something I will never forget, after that he said something I will never forget but this I can print. He said, “Smart people play chess, not so smart people play checkers.” He explained that by saying chess is a game where you plan your moves well in advance, often giving the distinct impression of losing until you can mount an ultimate attack which will win the day. I said checkers is the same kind of game, he said true but checkers is a game where both players expect it to be over fairly quickly. It’s much easier to set someone up if they don’t know it’s coming. I laughed when he said white people ruled the world because in chess white always moves first.

I laughed until I noticed he wasn’t.

So yes I have a dark side and when my dark side rears it’s ugly head I want to move immediately and decisively and let the people know my displeasure with their actions. But MOTU said patience is a very deadly weapon. I found this funny coming from him considering he has no patience.

He says, “I don’t have any patience now, I’m not starting out in my career. Do you think Britney Spear would be on a comeback tour if she pulled that shaving her head shit when she was a member of the Mickey Mouse Club? I don’t think so.”

This week I pulled the trigger after 4 long months of waiting to do so. And you know what? It was the right thing to do.

Will all due respect to MOTU, I do feel that some things should be handled quickly and immediately. As a woman, it’s important for me in business and some social gatherings to let people know I am not a pushover nor will I be disrespected. I thought that, but I didn’t say it. If you know MOTU, you also know that immediately after you say to him “You are right”, the cloak of smugness descends upon him and he hears nothing else. The four months enabled me to calm down, reflect, inform certain people of my intentions- thus keeping them as valued contacts. It also enabled me to go out as a professional and thought me a very valued lesson about patience. Which I’m still learning!

Regarding the situation, I’m in a much stronger position, my professionalism and integrity are intact and I’m happy.

Checkmate.