Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary reason William E. Peck believes Cappy Ricks will give him a job?
What is the primary reason William E. Peck believes Cappy Ricks will give him a job?
- Peck is a war veteran and Cappy Ricks holds a deep sense of obligation to veterans.
- Peck knows inside information about Ricks' competitors and their operations.
- Peck has a personal connection to Cappy Ricks through a mutual acquaintance.
- Peck demonstrates compelling salesmanship by selling himself and his abilities effectively. (correct)
How does Cappy Ricks circumvent Mr. Skinner's initial refusal to hire William E. Peck?
How does Cappy Ricks circumvent Mr. Skinner's initial refusal to hire William E. Peck?
- By directly overruling Skinner's decision and mandating Peck's hiring.
- By threatening to replace Skinner if he does not comply with Cappy's wishes.
- By appealing to Captain Matt Peasley to pressure Skinner into hiring Peck.
- By framing the hiring of Peck as a personal favor that Skinner 'must' grant. (correct)
What specific attributes of William E. Peck impress Cappy Ricks during their initial interview?
What specific attributes of William E. Peck impress Cappy Ricks during their initial interview?
- Peck's extensive knowledge of the lumber industry and connections with prominent clients.
- Peck's shared military experiences and the camaraderie they establish during their conversation.
- Peck's demonstrated resilience, salesmanship, and determination despite his disabilities. (correct)
- Peck's willingness to accept any job, regardless of the pay or responsibilities involved.
Why are Captain Matt Peasley and Mr. Skinner hesitant to hire more ex-service members?
Why are Captain Matt Peasley and Mr. Skinner hesitant to hire more ex-service members?
What does Cappy Ricks mean by the statement, "He carries his objective" in reference to Bill Peck?
What does Cappy Ricks mean by the statement, "He carries his objective" in reference to Bill Peck?
What is the significance of the phrase Cappy uses "the language of the line" and what effect did it have on Mr. Peck?
What is the significance of the phrase Cappy uses "the language of the line" and what effect did it have on Mr. Peck?
What is the job Cappy Ricks is alluding to when he tells Skinner to give Bill Peck "anything the trade doesn't want as a gift"?
What is the job Cappy Ricks is alluding to when he tells Skinner to give Bill Peck "anything the trade doesn't want as a gift"?
What is the meaning of the phrase Mr. Skinner was "down for the count"?
What is the meaning of the phrase Mr. Skinner was "down for the count"?
What does the quote at the end of the story convey: Count that day lost whose low descending sun finds prices shot to glory and business done for fun?
What does the quote at the end of the story convey: Count that day lost whose low descending sun finds prices shot to glory and business done for fun?
What does Cappy threaten to do if Mr. Skinner puts a prohibitive price on the skunk fir?
What does Cappy threaten to do if Mr. Skinner puts a prohibitive price on the skunk fir?
What does Cappy mean when he says "he has a sense of humor! Ah, poor old by-the-book Skinner!"?
What does Cappy mean when he says "he has a sense of humor! Ah, poor old by-the-book Skinner!"?
What does Bill Peck request from Cappy?
What does Bill Peck request from Cappy?
What physical ailments does the author explicitly say Bill Peck has?
What physical ailments does the author explicitly say Bill Peck has?
Flashcards
Who is Cappy Ricks?
Who is Cappy Ricks?
The chairman and president emeritus of the Ricks interests.
Who is William E. Peck?
Who is William E. Peck?
A veteran who lost his arm in the war, has a limp, and experience selling lumber in the Middle West.
Why does Cappy hire Peck?
Why does Cappy hire Peck?
Peck impresses Cappy with his salesmanship and determination.
What does Peck ask of Cappy?
What does Peck ask of Cappy?
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Who is Mr. Skinner?
Who is Mr. Skinner?
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Who is Captain Matt Peasley?
Who is Captain Matt Peasley?
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What does Skinner believe?
What does Skinner believe?
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What job does Cappy give Peck?
What job does Cappy give Peck?
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Study Notes
- Cappy Ricks, the chairman and president emeritus of the Ricks interests, receives a call from his operator about a young man, William E. Peck, wanting to see him.
- Peck claims to have insight into how Ricks' competitors in the Middle West once outmaneuvered his company.
- Peck enters Cappy's office, showing military bearing, and introduces himself, expressing gratitude for the interview.
- Cappy notices Peck's limp and missing forearm, deducing he is a war veteran.
The Job Request
- Peck states he is there to ask for a job.
- He confidently asserts he won't be refused, explaining his background as a successful salesman and his intention to sell himself to Cappy.
- Cappy is immediately impressed.
- Peck enlisted in the military on April 7, 1917.
- Cappy served with the Knights of Columbus at Camp Kearny.
- Before the war, Peck sold lumber for the Portland Lumber Company in the Middle West.
- Peck describes his habit of closely monitoring competitors to gain an edge.
- Peck was discharged from Letterman General Hospital with a half disability.
- Peck spent a year at a tuberculosis hospital in Fort Bayard, New Mexico.
Obstacles and Determination
- Peck confirms he has seen Mr. Skinner who said there were no jobs
- Peck says Captain Matt Peasley said business was bad, and there was not enough to go around so he could not offer Peck a job
- Peck asks Cappy to override Skinner and Peasley, wanting any job he can do, promising to excel or quit.
- Cappy presses a button summoning Skinner.
The Negotiation and Strategy
- Cappy tells Skinner they will proceed with the plan to send Andrews to Shanghai temporarily.
- Cappy asks Skinner to take Peck on, as a personal favor.
- Skinner reluctantly agrees.
- Cappy tells Skinner to pay Peck what he is worth
- Cappy warns Peck against complacency, setting high expectations and threatening consequences for underperformance.
- Peck is happy with the terms.
- Cappy calls Skinner "poor old by-the-book Skinner" who will be mad at Cappy and make Bill Pecks life hard.
- Peck says he can report at 1 P.M. after lunch.
- Peck jokes that he might as well earn half a day's pay
- Cappy says he can drive Peasley and Skinner so far but always needs to back down eventually.
The Aftermath
- After Peck leaves Skinner returns to Cappy's Office
- Cappy preempts any complaints from Skinner.
- Cappy asks how Skinner could reject a lumber salesman and a wounded soldier
- Skinner defends his decision, citing the influx of veterans already hired due to Cappy's generosity.
- Skinner says the Ricks interests have absorbed all the old soldiers possible
- Cappy promises Peck is the last veteran he will ask Skinner to hire.
- Skinner states that Peck went over his head to get the job after being rejected.
- Cappy argues that Peck's persistence indicates he would have been a fine soldier.
- Cappy asks Skinner to give Peck the skunk spruce to sell.
- Cappy suggests giving Peck other undesirable inventory to sell off.
- Cappy says if Peck makes good he's to have Andrews' current salary.
- Cappy insists on fairness.
- Cappy warns Skinner not to overprice the skunk fir.
- The text says that Peck has half of his left forearm buried in France.
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