9 - Mr Wong

When Mr. Wong’s business started failing. Another facility with more updated and high-tech gym equipment had opened up in the next city over. They claimed they were training better security personnel, taking most of their business. And because money was getting tighter, instead of competing head-on with their competitor. And perhaps going to debt just to buy top-of-the-line gym equipment, Clara suggested they venture out where they’ve never been before. To specialize in the technology side of the industry. A business that needs little to nothing in terms of capital. This was because they needed to supply the equipment only upon demand.

It was slow going at first. Installing security cameras, monitoring systems, and intruder alert technology for single individuals and small family-owned companies, but as their clientele grew, so did their profit. Eventually, when the business kicked off, they were able to buy all the updated gym equipment they needed to compete with their rival.

Clara was the genius behind their system, so as soon as the money started coming in, Mr. Wong hired her as a permanent employee. She was in charge of the software and technology side of the operations, since he was not really that tech-savvy. Giving her the fancy title of “Chief Technology Officer.” She, in turn, hired Max and Jeremy to help with the development of the software systems. This gave them firsthand experience in applying what they were learning in school, programming, and software development. And they were cheap labor because they were students.

After her college graduation, Mr. Wong mentioned he wanted to close the entire business and advised her to think about her future. He suggested that Clara should join a company with more advanced technology to showcase her skills or maybe open up her own shop. He argued that he was getting old and would not have the energy to handle the business side of the company on his own. So Clara secured a loan with a local bank and bought 70 percent of his shares to keep the company afloat. She hired a personal assistant, an accountant, and a marketing director to boost sales and keep Mr. Wong off his toes. She kept 30% of the shares and divided the rest between Max and Jeremy.

He declined to be part of the company any longer, but Clara could never imagine training the security personnel without him. Mr. Wong had more wisdom to give out to the people he was training. So she promised that as soon as they both found his replacement, he could retire. But in the meantime, he could be part of managing and screening the security personnel they sent out because Clara knew nothing about training people and weighing in on their capabilities. Mr. Wong was better at reading people and their personalities. So far, all the people he trained over the years have been exemplary and were re-hired repeatedly.

Clara hired several trainers and instructors that taught different self-defense disciplines: Karate, Krav Maga, Jeet Kune Do, and Jujitsu, among a few others. One trainer they retained over the years was the man with the past. He became the head trainer because of his determination to succeed and experience. He was ex-military and an ex-security guard, so he knew the ins and outs of the industry.

Her only request was to allow her free rein on the software and technology side. And as a bonus, she would allow the trainees to learn their software to make them more hireable.

When their security company got more jobs than they could fill and enough money to sustain the business, they hired more people and expanded their office. Moving them to a newer location. New buildings were to be constructed for the newly named Security and Software Technology (SST) offices.

One building was for the Security Workforce department. They had the largest dojo Clara had ever seen. A gym with the latest equipment, where they conduct training and drills. Training rooms for holding seminars and training on how to use the most recent SST software were going to be provided. In the same building, they had a placement agency where the trainees could apply to as soon as their training ended. Mr. Wong’s office is in this building so he could oversee the trainees.

The second building was to be dedicated to the Science and Technology department. Clara had the contractors build a state-of-the-art research lab to enhance and develop proprietary technologies and software. This building housed the Accounting, Finance, and Marketing Department, along with Clara, Max, and Jeremy’s offices.

Both buildings were to be interconnected by a glass-covered bridge that overlooked the lake in the distance, giving everyone a marvelous view of the sunrise and the sunset on both sides. This served as easy access for the staff, so they could go to any department they desired to visit. But although anyone can walk into the training building anytime, they were more strict with people coming into Building 2, only because they kept highly classified information in this area.

Max loved being in the first building training with the instructors rather than sitting in his office, answering phone calls and emails. Lana, his personal assistant, took care of that for him. His carefree spirit did not allow him to sit for more than an hour for anything. Even meetings with his siblings needed to be short. Only because they knew that after a while, they would lose his attention, and he gets easily agitated to move on to the next thing he needed to accomplish.

He was brilliant at what he does, but it was hard to keep his attention. Drawn out conversations and confrontations were not his thing, so Clara let him do whatever he wants. She figured it was better to know where he was, training with the instructors rather than have him disappear because he got pissed.

He has a lot of energy to burn, so they find him at the dojo most of the day. But do not think Max is negligent of his duties. He takes care of business on time, and when he holds demonstrations for their security system, he could easily command people to listen to him. His voice was soothing, his smile easy, and he could easily convince people to buy whatever he sold. He has the personality of a very well-liked person, and he uses that to his advantage.

Clara always teases him that he could sell placebo pills that would make you lose weight, and due to his convincing power, everyone who bought it would really lose weight. He was a smooth talker, and that’s the reason the ladies fall at his feet.