6 chapters across the catalog
Scott Adams Career Origins, Pacific Bell and Cisco Investment
Scott Adams recounts his early days working at Pacific Bell in 1993, where he demonstrated the nascent World Wide Web to visitors. He reflects on his failure to invest in Cisco despite a direct recommendation from a top engineer, calling it his worst financial decision.
Scott Adams Departure from Pacific Bell, Corporate Lure
Scott Adams clarifies the circumstances of his departure from Pacific Bell, noting that he was initially kept on as a "lure" for sales calls because of his fame. He eventually left peacefully when a manager needed his budget for another project, despite the company's CEO later expressing surprise at his exit.
Scott Adams Tribute and Dilbert Creator Career History
A lengthy tribute is paid to the late Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip, following his recent passing. Details of his early career are shared, including his time at Crocker Bank and Pacific Bell, where he was eventually fired by an efficiency expert who became a character in his cartoons. His work ethic, physical health struggles with his drawing hand, and his unique philosophy on human suggestibility and "thinking past the sale" are explored.
Scott Adams, Early Internet History and Cisco Investment
Scott Adams recalls his early career at Pacific Bell in 1993, where he demonstrated the World Wide Web to customers when only two websites existed. Adams describes a missed financial opportunity after a top engineer advised him to invest everything in Cisco. He reflects on the difficulty of holding stocks long-term even when the potential for growth is obvious.
Dilbert Comic Strip, Corporate Inspiration and Syndication
Scott Adams explains how his experiences at a bank and a phone company inspired the universal corporate themes in the Dilbert comic strip. He attributes the success of the strip to applying MBA business techniques, such as listening to customer feedback via email to focus on workplace settings. Adams discusses the rarity of "mega cartoons" and advises modern artists to build an audience on the internet before seeking syndication.
Scott Adams, Pacific Bell Termination and Alice Character
Scott Adams clarifies the story of his departure from Pacific Bell, involving a coworker named Anita who served as the inspiration for the character Alice. While management initially kept him on for sales purposes, a new manager eventually asked him to leave during a budget reorganization. Adams notes that the CEO was surprised by his departure, but he left peacefully to focus on Dilbert.
