Smart Lemming Diary: Restarting Salary Discussion for VP Role
March 6, 2006
After my promotion this week, my CEO and I had a lot going on. We had several meetings together, especially with outsiders.
My CEO enjoys introducing me as his VP of Marketing. He’s so excited and proud of this change. I can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice.
He’s quite pleased with himself because, according to him, he finally found someone that actually worked out after several stressful experiences in the past for my department. It’s nice to be valued. It’s hard to believe that I was a disgruntled worker only a year ago.
It’s overwhelming to feel needed, feeling like I’ve turned into his Number 2 person, joining with our COO. Currently, my CEO’s thinking strategically as he describes his vision to potential acquirers right now.
It’s rewarding to helped him realize his vision by letting him articulate his thoughts during our impromptu one-on-one meetings. After listening to his vision for our product, I created the mock-up screen shots to use in his presentation.
Salary Discussion
On Friday, we had our one-on-one meeting to catch up with each other, even though we had been in most of the same meetings all week.
Finally, at the end our meeting, he asks me, “Now, what do you have for me?”
“So, do you have any news on the new comp plan that you were going to create for me?,” I said in more a fun and playful tone.
My CEO was positive. His reaction was, “Rats! I forgot to meet with the Controller to discuss your salary. Wait, I don’t need him. I know what I want to offer you. What’s your salary right now?” I replied.
He quickly said, “I was thinking about a 10% salary increase. How does that sound?”
“Well, since I bought the salary data for our initial salary negotiations, let me review it, so I can properly respond to your proposal.” I made sure that my tone is still light and fun.
My CEO replied, “Wait, I have the software association salary report! I can look up for the salary for your title and responsibilities, especially since we’re trying to be fair with comp plans.”
What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
Timothy was still determined to find out what I want to be when I grow up. “You never did tell me what you want to be when you grow up.” He asked.
“I really do want this to be my last gig in healthcare technology. I’m ready to work with my partner full-time. We love the Internet because we can work anywhere. If this deal [my startup is in the process of getting acquired] goes through for us, then we’ll have the flexibility to continue to build new things. I still have one or two personal things that I want to do as well.”
My CEO listened, and then said that he still has more to give. He wants to flip his company for an exit. After that, he wants to launch another startup in the same industry by saying, “I still have one more left in me.”
I think he was trying to signal me to see if I could bite and want to join him. Of course, I would consider it. It’s not very often I meet someone exceptional like my CEO. He has his quirks and I have mine. But we don’t bug each other and enjoying working together. It would be fun to join him if he does build another startup.
The Smart Lemming Diary is a series that chronicles a journey of laid-off worker, who becomes a Vice President of Sales Operations & Marketing for a small entrepreneurial healthcare technology company. For previous entries in this series, click here. For the first diary entry, click here. For the highlighted Smart Lemming Diary entries, click here.
