DIARY

February 19, 2003

Things are starting to heat up

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Email from Steven to Pieter
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The WSJ called Clint Greenleaf to ask about the book. Clint offered to Fedex her a copy of the book and she said that would be great and that she would skim it quickly. “What’s this all about? Clint asked. “I really can’t say,” she said. Clint then told her that he had been seeing a small uptick in sales and they were considering a reprint. “Do I need to talk to Pieter about printing more?” “No, I wish you wouldn’t,” she said. “Would it be better to wait till next week?” ”Yes,” she said. Okay that is fine I guess. Our primary concern is the company launch right? If they mention the book that would be good for you. Anyway, in the email I sent you earlier, you can see that she says that Charles will ask you about the book tomorrow. So I guess she was just being an ethical reporter. Then she asked Clint for an anecdote about you. Clint said you were a brilliant businessman and you reminded him of Herb Kelleher, the outrageous, unconventional CEO of Southwest Airlines. She wants him to call back when he thinks of more.


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Email from Steven to Pieter
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If it's at all possible, I'd like to be on that call tomorrow with you and Charles Goldsmith. If it's at noon your time tomorrow and it's 5 AM here, I don't care. Call me on the cell and give me five minutes or so to wake up before we have to be presentable to the public. I'm sure you'll do fine, but while you're concentrating on your answers, I want to be there to support you plus I have to know what you guys talked about.


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Email from Pieter to Steven
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I did get all the email. It is good news! Things are going okay. I like what Clint told Anna. The anecdote / description is excellent. I love Herb. He is one of my heroes. So the shoe fits. As it turns out someone (American) called our office (CBB number) yesterday at around 6:00 PM. Our guy told the man I had already gone home. He didn't get a name. I don't know if it was you or Clint. If not, we must assume it was the WSJ. I will let you know the minute something happens.


Pieter did have his talk with Charles that day.


At about 9:15 PM (Dutch time) Steven called Pieter. “We need a picture.” Although we had one available on our site, they needed one with a higher resolution. There was nothing left to do but go back to the office, dig one up, and mail it to Steven. Once in the office Pieter called Steven. The WSJ wanted to talk to Pieter some more so Steven arranged a conference call. The call lasted about 45 minutes. Apart from more questions about the legal aspects the reporter mentioned the book and wanted to know about the philosophy of the honest thief.