I’ll Remember that Sheepish Look for a Long Time – Entry no. 17

Thursday, April 29th

Just finished a rather entertaining Board of Directors meeting. I had been so eager to find out if our strategy would be a success. Instead of acquiescing to Damsted’s requests, I had invited a representative from the Department so the Board could hear firsthand just why it is so important for the entrepreneurs to fill out forms to use meeting rooms. Chairman Karlsen and I started the day with a cup of coffee together and he inspired me with stamina and calm by reminding me that the majority of the Board is on my side. Nonetheless, I was nervous when I started the meeting and Damsted strutted into the room like a cock on a VIP mission. He barely deigned look at Mr. Nielsen before I had introduced him. When he saw that the Department Head’s personal assistant was there, he raised his nose even higher than usual, and he could hardly wait until we got to his item on the agenda: the reporting forms.

When we had arrived that far, I introduced the topic by explaining that we had heard rumours about more forms on the way for entrepreneurs who wanted an office in our agency. And one form in particular troubles us, I said. The one that entrepreneurs will have to fill out about their meetings. For each meeting, they’ll need to provide information about the length of time they met, with whom they met – including the company’s name, the people present and their job titles, and their company’s CVR number. That’s an unreasonable amount of required information, and it doesn’t help the entrepreneurs in any way. They fight a constant battle with time as it is – it’s not easy to become a success in a new market.

Dumbsted sat shaking his finger frantically to indicate that he had something to say. Unfortunately, the Chairman of the Board showed him mercy by first asking Mr. Nielsen if he could comment on the rumours. Mr. Nielsen thanked him and began to praise us – hehehe – for being one of the country’s most well-run entrepreneur agencies, and the only one with a waiting list. Then he said that the Department had discussed introducing new forms like the ones I had described, but upon closer inspection it had become clear that their resources could be put to use more productively by performing a collective analysis of the reporting requirements for entrepreneurs overall – and to identify how to reduce the amount of reporting.

Dumbsted nearly choked on his danish, and his once so fervently waving hand became flustered and flapped strangely until finally, he stuck it in his pocket. I’ll remember his sheepish expression with great pleasure the next time he tries his untimely interference – if he dares. What a joyous day it will be when he retires!