Daily Diary

Diary managerial masterclass...with Jonathan Goldstein

Posted 9/02/2007 by The Daily Diary

 8. Money for old-swang.

"People say to me: 'Jonny, you’re a stand-up kinda guy – the kinda man you can trust when the chips are very much down. You’re a can-do, glass-half-full kinda blokey. How can I get things done like you do?'

"I always say: 'Cut to the chase, man. Time is money. My squad Spurs don’t get things done by sitting around on the pitch talking about stuff. They take the game to the other side - unless it’s f***** Man United…or Cardiff, I guess.'

"Anyway, the point I’m making is that you can’t be a leader like big Jonny or Deadly Ledley if you sit around talking, gum-flap style. Strategy? Booooorring! Meetings? You ain’t speaking my lingo, man.

"I didn’t get to be el capitano of Olswang aged 31-and-three-quarters by sitting around reading contracts and practising law. I got out there, got my hands dirty. I led from the front, with my best foot forward, standing fore-square 110% behind the troops. My squad knows I wouldn’t ask them to do anything I’m not ready to do. That’s why they’ve got to do what I say, not do what I do – it’s not a democracy, Fidel.

"Hey, when I joined this dusty old law firm, it was about all about the media. Can you imagine anything more dull? That’s why I had to shake things up.

"It wasn’t long before we were attracting red-hot signings like DJ Freeman’s property team. I bet Lawrence sh*tting Graham were crying into their cocoa, the fusty old gits. But hey, it’s not all work, work, work. Hell no. Work hard, play hard, be hard.

"Hey, music man, crank up that karaoke box one more time before I go – I’m feeling a Sister Sledge moment coming on…"