Learning Curve Read Online Free PDF

does this bean counter know about processors, compilers, and writing code?” Dan found himself compared to John Sculley and other traditional industry types who had sailed into Silicon Valley with flags flying… only to be dashed by waves against the rocks. Those publications would ask the same question at each of Dan’s promotions in the years that followed, especially when he was appointed President and CEO. It was only after he had been five years in the top job—almost a decade after his arrival in the Valley—that those questions finally faded.
    The financial press, as was its style, took a different tack. How, it asked, could these two almost polar opposite personalities ever find enough common ground to work together? Fortune even entitled its feature on the piece, “Street Tough meets Eagle Scout,” playing on their very different backgrounds. Business Week gave the “marriage” six months, predicting that Crowen, tail between his legs, would run back to Wall Street just in time to handle the next Validator stock offering.
    Those doubts faded just about the time that Dan himself began to wonder if they were valid.
    An elegant hand lightly squeezed his shoulder. “Mr. Crowen?”
    Dan looked up to see the pretty flight attendant, silhouetted in the dim light of the cabin. It was already dark outside.
    â€œSir, the pilot tells me that there is a particularly lovely aurora borealis above us right now. Mr. Validator always likes for his flight guests to see it.”

v. 1.2
    N ot a hint of sunset glow remained on the western horizon when the plane touched down lightly at Coeur d’Alene Airport, turned away from the terminal, and taxied over to Validator’s private hangar. The hangar doors were open, showing a vintage Bell helicopter parked inside. In front of the doors, silhouetted in the bright light from the open hanger, was a Lincoln Navigator with a man in a cowboy hat, his arms folded, standing beside it.
    Before the plane’s passenger door even opened, the man trotted over to the rear of the plane, unloaded Dan’s bags, and began lugging them back to the SUV. And he was there to meet Dan as he stepped down the stairs.
    Dan pumped a calloused hand. “Virgil, great to see you. How are you?”
    Virgil Mason, the top hand at Validator Ranch, took off his hat, ducked his head, and nodded. “I’m good, Mr. Crowen. It’s good to see you, too. It’s been a long time.”
    Dan slapped the man on the back. “It sure has. A couple years at least. Long enough for you to forget to call me Dan.”
    â€œYeah, Dan, I guess it has. Are you ready to go, or do you need to stop for anything?”
    â€œNo, let’s get going.”
    â€œGood. Because Mary’s cooking up a nice supper for you.”
    It was a moonless night, and cloudy. As they turned north on Highway 95, Dan could just make out a few lights beyond the reflection of the dashboard on the passenger window.
    â€œSo, Virgil, give me the news. How was hunting this year? Get your elk?”
    â€œYes sir, got my tags. Shot me a pretty nice one in the National Forest, just south of the lake. It’d been super cold the week before, then started to warm up. Guess he decided to get out and feel the sun on his back.”
    â€œBad choice.”
    â€œFor him, yeah. But we’re still eating the meat.”
    â€œAnything new at the ranch?”
    â€œSome new fencing. Painted a couple of the older buildings. That’s about it… well, except for the new wife.”
    â€œHow’s that working out?”
    Dan glanced over to see that Virgil had pursed his lips, as if trying to figure how much, or how little, to say.
    â€œAh,” said Dan.
    â€œNo, no. She’s alright, I guess. Just a little different from the other ones.”
    â€œWhat’s her name again?”
    â€œAmber. But we never get to call her that. It’s always ‘Mrs.