It didn't help that my dad was regarded by everyone around as a shrewd businessman. Although he was respected and his success admired, but it didn't mean he wasn't well liked.
Dad had been known as a no nonsense businessman because he always seemed eager to make the decisions others thought was cruel.
I'd grown up away from his business, so i had no idea what went on in his circle. This was until he decided to retire and make me CEO.
I guess i must've been surprised like the rest of the company. I was new in this role, finding out things about my dad i wasn't aware of and having to deal with workers who hated my dad.
Most of the employees hadn't been sure what to make of me since they previously had no interactions with me until i became CEO. They didn't know if the old rules would still be in play or if i would be even worse.
The last two months had been tiring, with me trying to build a bond with my employees while at the same time trying not to portray a soft approach that could undermine my authority.
It looked like i was finally making headway, at least i knew some of my workers truely loved me even if a large percentage still judged me because i was my father's daughter.
I was proud of my dad and loved him dearly even though i didn't approve of his business methods, i wasn't going to let anyone taint my memory of him.
He had encouraged a system where co-workers were spying on one another and reporting to management for money benefits. It meant everyone tried to do their jobs perfectly while at the same time monitoring other people's mistakes.
Even though the workers were actually the ones doing all the harm themselves, they still hated my dad for putting them in that position. It was every man for himself.
I was still thinking of the many ways i could deescalate the already hostile working environment when dad paid me a surprise visit.
His face which had been absent for the past two months suddenly brought to surface all the fear and hate i had been trying to squash.
Many were giving me looks that seemed to ask if i was truely CEO or simply CEO in name.
I decided there and then it was time for all the nonsense to stop. I called a meeting of all the staff in the company, from my personal assistants to the security personnel.
When they were all gathered, i could see from their faces the curiosity and fear of what my dad's presence meant and why i had even called a meeting.
I hadn't been sure of what i wanted to say at first, but seeing their faces i decided to approach the problem using a different approach.
I began with the story of a boy who had grown up in a loving and wonderful family. He had all the care and support he could ever ask for and life was beautiful.
One day he and his family were coming back from a birthday party when they had an accident. An accident which claimed the lives of all the occupants except him.
Without relatives or anyone to take over his care, the grieving and hurt boy soon found himself in an orphanage. Tossed around from one place to the other, he soon came to understand that people only respected those who had money.
Armed with this knowledge, he went into the world determined to make it in life and prevent his own children from experiencing what he had. He was eventually successful and soon had a good business.
His determination to succeed must've gave into fear because he wouldn't see all that he built crumble.
Many misunderstood him and thought he was only being cruel, but only he understood what he had to go through to get to the position he was. That man in the story is none other than the man standing right here, my father and your former CEO.
As i concluded the story, i could see tears in the eyes of everyone present. None of them had ever heard this story before and it wasn't one i was willing to tell again.
Dad was looking at me and crying as i stepped into his warm embrace. I wasn't willing to bring up the past, but it was important that people understood the reasons behind his actions before they fully judged him.
He was simply a misunderstood man
