Read Online Learning Curve by Michael S. Malone - Free Book Online Page A

bloggers have been saying.”
    The room was silent. Even when the image of Cosmo Validator resolved itself through a quick focus, there was none of the usual booing and catcalls. Alison glanced over at Armstrong, who raised his eyebrows.
    On-screen, Validator completed the main part of his speech. “Okay,” said Givens, “here it comes…”
    Validator’s slightly muffled on-screen voice announced, “And so it is for that reason…” The entire room leaned forward to hear every word.
    Two minutes later, as the image of Dan Crowen stepping up to the podium to shake Validator’s hand appeared on the screen, someone in the room shouted, “It’s a lot harder than it looks, Cosmo!” There was nervous laughter. Someone else yelled, “Bring it on, Validator. This ain’t your industry anymore.” This time the laughter was more forced.

v. 2.1
    A lison waited for the crowd, its members now muttering amongst themselves, to leave the room. On the screen, Validator and Crowen stood at the podium being photographed. Alison studied them with narrowed eyes. Then she turned to Givens, who sat beside her. He saw her look and said, “We’ve always wondered when. Now we know. Here they come.”
    Alison nodded. “Let’s talk in my office,” she said softly. She rose, straightened her vest, looked back at the remaining employees in the room, and smiled at them. “Nothing we didn’t already know about,” she told them reassuringly. Several of the employees smiled and nodded in reply.
    Armstrong knew enough to close the office door behind him. Alison sat at her desk, beneath the big Diane Arbus poster, and stared up at him with curiosity. “You remember when you joined this firm that I told you I expected you to on take a second role besides product manager?”
    â€œDaycare center director?” deadpanned Givens.
    Not even a flicker of amusement crossed Alison’s face. “You’ve been in this Valley longer than most of us have been alive. You know these men. So tell me, who’s behind this unexpected move by Validator? Who are we fighting? Crowen?”
    Armstrong put a finger to his lips. “I’ve known Dan for a long time. Sincehis banking days. And this certainly isn’t his standard operating procedure. If he were to do something as radical as this, he’d roll it out carefully over two or three years. He’d probably be late, but he’d do it right. No, this smacks more of the Old Man. Cosmo doesn’t just shoot the wounded, he shoots the people he expects will be wounded.”
    â€œBut Crowen is CEO now,” said Alison. “Validator’s hardly around. Doesn’t that suggest that this is Crowen’s initiative?”
    â€œYes it does. And that’s what’s so puzzling. I don’t get it yet. But we’ll figure it out soon enough.”
    â€œIt better be soon enough,” said Alison. “This is a major move by Validator Software. And it’s aimed directly at us. And we better be able to respond intelligently… and quickly.”
    â€œUnderstood,” said Givens. “But look on the bright side, Alison. At least I got you out of one those dreary and pedantic Tipo presentations.”
    Alison gave a small smile and pulled a blue strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, there is that.”
    Givens was heading out the door when she called to him. “Oh, and Armstrong? Work your old Valley network and find out how Tony D. is feeling about all of this. I’ll bet he isn’t very happy right now.”
    Armstrong Givens nodded knowingly, and disappeared.

v. 2.2
    D inner that night was at Delancey Street Restaurant, the dinner place run by rehabilitated ex-cons just off the Embarcadero, south of the Bay Bridge. It wasn’t a great restaurant, but it was good enough. The concept was admirable, and most important, it was just a couple blocks from