I was in a meeting with Frank Daniels III, executive editor of The News & Observer, and I was in a lather: I didn’t “need” — I had to have — a dedicated server for a fledgling computer assisted reporting network I was building.
Lucky for me there was a good chance I’d get it. Frank III was probably the most technological advanced newspaper editor in the United States. Proof? While some editors were still using typewriters, the computers in his house were networked.
So I made my pitch and he said OK.
But maybe he didn’t say it loud enough to suit to me, or slam his fist on the table say “OK!” So a few minutes later I start in on my pitch a second time.
Frank III interrupted me.
“When you get the answer you want you should learn to keep your mouth shut,” he said.
I stayed quiet, and I got my server. I also learned a valuable lesson, one I’ve used over and over since then to my great benefit: When I get the answer I want I don’t say another word.
Coming Monday: There’s No Law Against Dumb
True, and enough said.