The three options

Max and Noah were still in Noah's office as Max was about to hear the options Noah had thought up for Max's career advancement. Noah started listing off the options. "The offer consists of three options. Option A, you get the director's position that has become vacant because of Andrew. Option B, you will be made the head of one of our subsidiary companies." Max was already dreading things as he listened to options A and B. However, Noah had left a special surprise for option C.

What Max didn't account for in his moment of worry and prediction of things to come, was that Noah had known him long enough to know what to offer. So, after a short pause, which of course felt like an eternity for Max who was sitting at the edge of his seat, Noah made him the final offer that was 'option C'. An option which in Noah's mind was the perfect compromise should Max not want to leave the position he had, for a step up in the company.

"Or option C, if a direct promotion regarding work isn't something you want, I want to give you more authority as my assistant. Steve and I will create a position that will allow you to continue the work you do here as my assistant, as well as have some additional responsibilities. Of course this option would come with a pay raise as well and you will be given your own assistant to lighten your workload and free up space for your new responsibilities. Responsibilities we will discuss after you make your decision. Either way you will gain something financially, but depending on what type of challenge you want, what type of reward careerwise, one option will be better than the other. I know that you aren't keen on leaving the job you have currently, but you know that at a certain point you will have to. I just don't want something that is intended as a reward, to feel like a punishment to you. So, think about it and get back to me once you have made your decision."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Back to the present~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max walked out almost immediately after that conversation. Uttering not much more than a 'Yeah' in response to what Noah had said, while in his mind he had told him that he would indeed think about it. It was exactly that which he was doing at the moment. Although Noah was right in stopping Max from making a decision right then and there, as it was clear what decision he would make in the heat of the moment. Once he started thinking about it, it kind of took over his mind. Making him drift off every few seconds as he thought things through and listed the pros and cons of each side. Only being snapped back to reality for short periods of time when the phone rang or he was spoken to.

It was a crazy offer and he really appreciated the opportunities he was given, and above all the acknowledgement and appreciation for what he has done over the years. But at the same time he didn't feel ready for this opportunity yet. Sure, the choice seemed easy at first glance. He could pick option C and nothing much would change for him. Other than getting more responsibilities. Something that he didn't mind in the first place. With extra pay, which never hurt. But that also meant giving up a position that wouldn't come by often. Because the directors weren't people that could move up in many cases. So, they held their position for a long time until one of the higher director positions opened up.

The only way that happened was because someone retired, they got fired, which was very rare, or they decided to leave on their own to work in a better position at another company, which was even more rare. So, giving up the chance to become a director now, might mean that he would have to wait for several more years before getting another opportunity like it. The same goes for the position to become the head of one of the subsidiaries, which could only be freed up right now by promoting one of the existing heads to one of the lower director jobs at the headquarters here.

Although the head of the subsidiary was essentially a lower position than becoming a director here, it brought along a certain level of freedom and autonomy to make decisions that a director's position here didn't have. He would really be running his own company instead of just a segment of it. Making Max feel like he was in quite a predicament of deciding what would be the right choice to make for him right now. To make matters worse, there was a lot to prepare for tonight's event of which they were a co-host. So, this was no time for him to be distracted. Something he was made to remember, when one of the vendors called.