Coming out of business school, I started my publishing career in magazines. Time Inc., then the largest periodical publisher in the country, decided (for the first and only time) to recruit M.B.A. candidates to work in its production department. Having focused on operations while in business school, I was eager to apply and happy when I was hired.
My first day on the job, I learned I was going to work for Bob Hughes, operations manager for magazine. My role was "assistant operations manager" for Time International. I had no idea what I was doing, something that Bob knew long before I did. Fortunately, he loved teaching people how things worked.
On my third day, Bob walked into my office, threw current-issue copies of Time and Newsweek (then competitors) on my desk, and said "I want you to tell me how these magazines were put together. I'll be back in a half hour." He was gone before I could ask any questions.
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