The elderly man had barely entered the boardroom when an executive pointed toward the door.
“You’re fired! Who gave you permission to come in here?”
Dressed in his maintenance uniform, the older man paused beside an empty chair.
“I’ve worked here longer than you’ve been here,” he replied.
The executive took his security badge and tossed it onto the floor.
“Pick it up and get out. You clean the floors. You don’t belong at this table.”
The man looked at the badge.
“Be careful. You have no idea what you’re throwing away.”
“Security! Remove him now!”
Before anyone moved, the chairman entered.
“Chairman, we have a situation here,” the executive said.
“Yes,” came the reply. “I can see exactly what the situation is.”
He bent down, retrieved the badge, and handed it to the elderly man.
“This man founded this company. And you just threw his badge onto the floor.”
The executive’s voice softened immediately.
“Sir, forgive us. This company exists because of you.”
The chairman held out his hand.
“Your authority ends here. Hand over your badge.”
The founder took the empty chair.
“Tomorrow, someone else will come here to clean this room,” he said. “I expect you to remember that they deserve a respectful welcome just as much.”