Rick Carter was a writer who worked at a journal called "The Writer's Guild." It was a journal that specialized in writing fictional short stories for various literary journals. His editor Candice McPherson called him into her office early one morning and Rick entered after knocking on the door.
She motioned for Rick to have a seat and asked, "Rick I'll cut to the chase. It's been three days since Clayton Simmons called here asking if you want to go learn and study with him. Are you going to accept his offer or not?"
Rick shook his head slowly and said, "I don't think so. I plan on calling him around lunch time here since he's on the West Coast. I just have so much going here at the Guild, and being here suits me. Being with Simmons I know I could learn a lot and his reputation as a great writer speaks for itself. However I've heard he can be a real taskmaster, and getting a compliment from him is almost as rare as finding a unicorn at the end of a rainbow holding the winning lotto ticket."
Candice rolled her eyes and slid back into her chair. She then leaned forward and said, "Rick this is like being a songwriter and Springsteen asking you if you want to learn songwriting from him. Or Jesus asking you directly if you want to a be an apostle. This is your ticket to the big time, and you can learn more from him in four days than you can learn in another four years here. Don't you want to grow and learn as a writer? Is being a big fish in the little pond that important to you?"
Rick replied, "I admit it's a bit of an ego thing here, but I don't know if I'm ready. Maybe in a couple of years someone else will make me an offer like this. I just don't know Candice."
Candice took a deep breath and asked, "Did you ever hear the story of James Worthy and Dean Smith?" Rick gave her a strange look and said, "Before your time I know, but I think it applies here. Dean Smith coached at UNC for years he coached some of the all time greats including Michael Jordan. Now Worthy was great he was the only player that when Dean Smith saw him he said, 'The minute I saw him I knew he was going to be a star in the NBA.' Worthy won 3 NBA titles with the Lakers, a finals MVP, and eventually went into the Hall of Fame."
Candice looked at Rick and said, "You're my Worthy. I read three of your sentences on your first story and I knew you were gonna be a great writer. Simmons read your stuff and sees the same destiny for greatness that I see. Rick you're ready to go pro."
Rick shook his head and said, "Candice I don't know if I'm ready I can still do a lot of good here. I got a couple of great story ideas that..."
Candice held up her hand and Rick stopped talking. Candice then picked up the phone and said, "This is McPherson on the fourth floor send two of your guys up here."
Candice hung up the phone and Rick asked, "What are you doing?"
Candice replied, "The only other option available to me." Rick looked at her for a moment and Candice said, "Rick you're fired."
Rick was dumbstruck as Candice said, "Rick you have so much potential and we've done everything we can here to challenge you, and to get you ready for bigger and better things. As much as I want you to stay I would be doing you a disservice as a writer, and your friend if I held you back. This is the only way to get you to do this now. Rick, I never told anyone this but I had a chance like this once and turned it down. I don't want you to make that same mistake."
Candice let those words hang over Rick and said, "I believe in you Rick. It's time for you to take a chance on you."
Rick nodded slowly as there was a knock on the door. Candice said, "Come in." Two Security Guards entered and Candice said, "Hi guys can you wait out there for a few moments. Mr. Carter is resigning from our company and we're just cleaning up some loose ends. Once we're done in here please make sure HR gets his parking pass, key card that sort of thing."
The guards nodded and closed the door as they left. Rick looked up at Candice and said, "I won't ever forgot you. My first book is being dedicated to you."
Candice looked almost offended as she said, "Book dedication? There you go selling yourself short again. Rick when you win the Pulitzer I fully expected to be thanked right after God and your parents."
Rick chuckled and said, "Done."
Candice pushed the phone in front of Rick and said, "Call him, One thing you should know about Clayton he goes from sun up to sundown."
Rick called Clayton and told him of his acceptance. After the call Candice and Rick looked at each other for a moment. Candice then got up and walked over to Rick. He stood up and the two embraced. Candice said, "I'm so happy and proud of you Rick, and I'm gonna miss you. Please keep in touch."
Rick replied, "I will. I promise I won't ever forget you."
The two broke their embrace and Rick said, "Goodbye Candice." With a smile and a tear falling Candice said, "Goodbye Rick."