Chapter 1015 Charles’ Advice
Sonia nodded profusely, agreeing with Brian’s words.
“I just don’t want others to look down on me and say that I can’t do anything without relying on men, but…” She supported her forehead with a wry smile on her face. “But now I discovered that I’ve been relying on Toby all the time, and there are not many things I have done by myself. It’s ironic.”
“Don’t say that.” Charles patted her on the shoulder, not wanting to see her doubt herself.
Brian took a bite of his food before saying, “Miss Reed, you dwell on things too much.”
“What?” Sonia’s hand that was propping up her head jolted before she lifted her head to look at him. “Mr. Smith, what do you mean?”
“Miss Reed, how long have you been managing Paradigm Co.?” Brian raised his hand, interrupting her question.
Sonia didn’t know why he was asking this all of a sudden, but she replied without hesitating, “It’s been almost half a year.”
“Then, have you studied management before you took over Paradigm Co.?” Brian asked again.
Sonia shook her head. “Of course not. Since I was young, my hobby has never been in business management, but my father respected my wishes and didn’t force me to inherit the company when I grew up.
Even when I was still in my teens, he decided to find a professional manager to manage Paradigm Co. after he retires so that I can pursue my hobbies without being tied to the company. Unfortunately, before he could find a suitable professional manager, my father…”
A sad expression appeared on her face, and she didn’t finish her sentence.
Brian rubbed his chin. “So you were completely rushed to take over Paradigm Co., and you hadn’t learned anything about management before that?”
“Yes.” Sonia let out a sigh. “Speaking of which, I know you’ll find this funny, but I basically learned everything about managing by myself. Charles and Toby have taught me some things, but they have their own jobs, so they can’t be teaching me all the time. Hence, there were many times that I was completely clueless. Fortunately, I was still able to hold onto Paradigm Co. and did not let the company go bankrupt in my hands.”
“In that case, you’re quite talented, Miss Reed. As a novice, even if you can’t bring Paradigm Co. back to its peak for the time being, you were still able to stabilize the company, and that’s already a very remarkable feat.
That’s why I said that you dwell on things too much. You’re too focused on not relying on President Fuller so that outsiders wouldn’t look down on you and think that you rely on men to support Paradigm Co., but have you ever thought that you are just a newcomer instead of a veteran who has been familiar with business management since they were a child?” Brian looked at Sonia.
She was taken aback by his words.
Charles blinked in confusion. “Mr. Smith, if you have anything to say, just say it. It’s making us antsy if you beat around the bush like this.”
Sonia nodded.
Brian laughed. “All right, since you say that, then I won’t beat around the bush anymore. Miss Reed, what I mean is that you’re a mere newbie who has just started to manage the company and not a veteran who has studied business management since young, so you don’t need to burden yourself at all.
You can rely on President Fuller and seek his help without any worries. Because you’re new at this, the outside world will not find fault with you relying on President Fuller. On the contrary, if you relied on him even though you were a veteran, outsiders would look down on you and think you’re incompetent.
In fact, the business world is quite tolerant to novices, but you just don’t understand this yet, Miss Reed. You thought that the business world was cruel from the beginning, and you weren’t aware of its other side. That is why I said that you dwell on things too much.”
“That’s…” Hearing that, Sonia completely froze as she fell into a daze all of a sudden.
Clearly, his words had a huge impact on her as she had never thought about it that way.
“Mr. Smith, you’re trying to tell me that I can rely on Toby without feeling helpless, and I don’t have to care about what other people think, right?” Sonia bit her lip and looked at Brian.
He nodded. “Yes. As I’ve said before, you’re new to the business world, and the business world is quite tolerant. We wouldn’t criticize a novice for relying on someone else for support, because every newcomer starts their business like this. Before they inherit the company, they will have someone supporting them. That’s why, Miss Reed, you can rely on President Fuller.”
Sonia’s red lips twitched, and she was just about to say something when Charles suddenly sided with Brian. “Sonny, I think Mr. Smith is right. Toby is your lover, and you’ll get married to him in the future, so you can indeed rely on him for his help.
Don’t think that relying on him to solve things is a result of your own incompetence. You’re a newcomer who is still learning, and you don’t have a strong influence yet, so there are many things that you can’t solve.
If you can’t solve them, you naturally have to rely on others for help. Didn’t we come to Mr. Smith for his help today? Since you’re willing to look for Mr. Smith, why not look for Toby? He’s the person you’re closest to, and you don’t even need to pay for his help.”
He didn’t like Toby and didn’t want to speak on his behalf at all, but now, he had to admit that Toby was the person who could help Sonia the most. Hence, he didn’t mind putting in a good word for him.
Sonia looked at Brian, then at Charles. Brian was an outsider, so she was not surprised that he would say this. However, now that Charles had joined in, she had no choice but to care. Could it be that she was wrong for insisting on doing everything by herself?
As if sensing her thoughts, Charles patted her on the shoulder again. “Of course you aren’t in the wrong, but the premise is that you are still a newcomer. If you are a veteran who has been dabbling in business for a long time, it’s absolutely right for you to insist on solving things by yourself.
On the contrary, if you were a veteran, but you still rely on others all the time, then others would look down on you. But, since you’re new, you can rely on others. This is how every industry treats newcomers, and I can’t believe I’ve forgotten this even after doing business for so long.”
Saying that, he couldn’t help but smack his forehead.
At the sight, Sonia laughed. “Do you think that I should rely on Toby as well?”
“It’s not that you should, but at your current state, you have to rely on others, because your current capabilities aren’t strong enough, and you can only rely on others to grow stronger in a short period of time.
If you take your time, how long would it take? Have you ever thought about it? Besides, have you ever considered if Paradigm Co. can afford to let you develop slowly?
I don’t think so. Paradigm Co. needs to thrive as soon as possible, which means all your work in the future would be highly difficult. For newcomers like you, that would only make you more confused. If you don’t rely on others, you won’t even know what to do. Only by depending on someone else will you not lose your way in the future and make the wrong decisions.”
As he said this, his expression was serious and solemn.
“Sonny, depending on Toby to solve some problems isn’t shameful, nor would it lower your status in your relationship with him, let alone make you feel that you will lose the ability to do things on your own. In fact, when you ask him for help, take a good look at his solutions and methods and learn from them.
Accumulate your experience and treat him as your own mentor. After all, he is unparalleled in the business world. With him as your teacher, you will grow even faster.”
