Look the Other Way or Face Down the Corruption? : Part 3

The Book of Hard Choices: How to Make the Right Decisions at Work and Keep Your Self-Respect
By James A. Autry, Peter Roy

(Page 3 of 3)

David continued his work with the community leaders even though Don thought it unnecessary. "But I was being successful, really, and I know Don liked me, he just didn't understand. He was doing it the way everyone always had done it."

David was determined to change the company and end the corruption. The turning point came when he developed and presented to the planning commission the first project that did not have to be appealed to the board of supervisors.

"There was a very feisty planning commissioner nicknamed 'Gravel Gertie,' " David recalls, "and the people in the community loved her because she was fighting the development. I remember the first time I had to come up before her. She hated me without knowing me because I was ACDI. She wouldn't meet with me before the hearing because she thought that I would try to put pressure on her.

"On the day of the hearing I had the support of the community for my project, and I was sandwiched in between two other developers who had unpopular projects. The planning commission room was packed and there were people waiting outside.

"The first developer presented his case, and then the community went on and on about how terrible the plan was. This took so much time, the commission had to delay the decision for two weeks. So when everybody came back after that, they were angry.

"After the first group left, I was up. The county staff made their presentation and recommended approval of my project. Then the chairwoman, Gravel Gertie, growled, 'Now we're going to hear from the applicant.'"

David had decided that he would try to lighten up the proceedings with humor. This is not always a good idea because it can seem as if you are not taking the situation seriously, but David felt it was worth the risk.

"I hoped not to sound like an arrogant smart aleck," he says. "But when the chairwoman said, 'Now we're going to hear from the applicant,' I stepped to the podium and said, 'Well, my name is David Stein, but actually if it's okay, I'd like to say I'm the builder because if you say I'm the applicant, it will be really kind of disappointing for my mother. She thinks I'm a builder. I've been telling her I'm a builder, and if she finds out I'm only an applicant, it'll be a problem.'

"The room broke into laughter, but the chairwoman turned red. I mean, she was really angry. But it broke the tension in the room. She slammed her gavel down two or three times and said, 'Mr. Stein, please continue.' And I said, 'Okay, I work for ACDI.' Then I said, 'Could I amend that?' She looked at me like I was crazy. And I said, actually instead of builder, would it be okay if I said I was a doctor because my mother really thinks I'm a doctor."

Again, everyone in the room laughed, and David wondered if he had gone too far or if he had indeed undercut some of the tension and hostility.

Then he changed the tone. "Look," he said, "I'm very proud of this project and I think it's something that's groundbreaking. The staff has supported it and I think the community, probably to your surprise, is here to support this project, not to protest against it, so I'll give up the rest of my time and just respond to questions."

Then the community leaders, one by one, stood to support the project. Afterward, the chairwoman called David back to the podium. "Mr. Stein, oh sorry, I mean Doctor Stein, I want to compliment you. The project is quite amazing, especially coming from ACDI."

After this success, David began a relationship with the chairwoman that led to a collaboration between the two of them in a program called "Tin Cup" (Time is now to clean up politics).

The timing was perfect for David because the company's business had slowed, and his boss, Don, was fired. David was named general manager of the division.

And this is where the real story of hard choices begins. The first thing David did was fire the lobbyist. Then he announced that the company would no longer give any political contribution to any politician except for the one supervisor from the company's own district, and only then if it seemed justified. This was in addition to his Tin Cup activities, through which he and the Orange County Homebuilders Association were promoting a $1,000 campaign contribution limit.

There was also another home builders group composed of the major builders in the area. David, as general manager of his division, attended those meetings as well. He remembers one at which some of the "icons of the industry," in his words, approached him and said, "David, we have to talk about this thing called Tin Cup because it's completely unfair and we have to block it. So, David, you need to leave the room."

David asked why. "So we can discuss it and we don't want to discuss it in front of you."

Only one builder supported David and said, "You can't make David leave. He's a member of the group."

Copyright © 2006 by James A. Autry.

About the Author

James A. Autry was the president of the magazine group for Meredith Corp., responsible for such publications as Better Homes and Gardens and Ladies Home Journal. He is the author of six books, including the top selling Love and Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership. He is currently a business consultant with top corporations and has an active speaking schedule. He lives in Des Moines with his wife Sally Perderson (who is lieutenant governor of Iowa) and his son.

Peter Roy is the former president of Whole Foods Market, which Fortune magazine first named one of the "Top Companies to Work For" during his tenure. He is currently a director of Avalon Natural Products, Traditional Medicinals and the Naked Juice Company as well as a trustee of the National Outdoor Leadership School. He lives on Pawle's Island, South Carolina.