Читать книгу Letters of Not Lite - Dale Shaw - Страница 18

Dearest Alexander,

Don’t feel downhearted. I know that interest and funding for your new device has been scant so far. But I am sure that once its attributes have been fully appreciated by open-minded people, then patronage will surely follow and it is bound to revolutionise the world of communications.

I felt our meeting today was particularly trying. I had it on good authority that Mr Towne was interested in investing and I thought he would have been more impressed by our presentation. But it was obviously not to be and again our efforts were futile. With this in mind, I wonder if a different approach might be called for?

I understand how disappointing it must be for you, enduring these continually fruitless meetings. But I did note today (and I think the estimable Mr Towne felt it also) that a distinct ennui overcame you when discussing the merits of the device.

I’m not a man of fine words, Alexander, but let me attempt to explain myself. It seemed to me as if you were not really trying particularly hard when presenting our prospectus and were merely going through the motions, as it were, without due care or attention. Oh dear, I’m really not sure if I’m getting my point across adequately. I can’t quite seem to find the right expression for what I wish to impart.

What I’m trying to say is I felt you were making a modicum of effort but were not fully invested in the pitching speech. It wasn’t the full-bodied approach I have previously seen you give, but rather a lifeless, ill-defined, subdued version of what I’ve witnessed. It was performed in something of a lacklustre manner, as if the results simply didn’t matter at all.

How best to put this? Again, I feel my words fail me. Perhaps there is no phrase to perfectly describe exactly what I’m trying to say. But let us regroup before our next investor presentation and have a bit of a pep talk. Obviously, I believe wholeheartedly in your invention and in you, Alexander, but I feel it would be to our advantage to avoid another sub-standard, middling effort exhibiting the lowest amount of energy required to get our message across. I wish I could explain myself better, perhaps with your inventing skills you could create a word for that also?

Yours,

Anthony Pollok