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Memos from the 'World's Worst Boss'

Do you think your boss is tough or unfair? Try working for the world's worst boss—Mike Davis, aka Tiger Mike. Davis started as a chauffeur and rose to become a Houston oil and gas magnate. But he earned an even more notoriety as "the world's worst boss" and "the world's grumpiest boss." Throughout his career he routinely issued grumpy memos to his employees.

For instance, on January 11th, 1978 he sent the following terse memo to all his employees: "Idle conversation and gossip in this office among employees will result in immediate termination. DO YOUR JOBS AND KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!"

A month later he banned office birthday parties with the following memo: "There will be no more birthday celebrations, birthday cakes, levity, or celebrations of any kind within the office. This is a business office. If you have to celebrate, do it after office hours on your own time."

In another memo he explained why he could swear but his employees couldn't: "I swear, but since I am the owner of this company, that is my privilege, and this privilege is not to be interpreted as the same for any employee. That differentiates me from you, and I want to keep it that way. There will be absolutely no swearing, by any employee, male or female, in this office, ever."

Possible Preaching Angles: (1) Employer; Jobs; Work—a great way to set up a sermon on the difficulties and challenges of work. (2) Encouragement—a good example of how NOT to act as a boss or how not to encourage people in your life.

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