The Man Who Saw Tomorrow - Tale of Corporate Prophecies

Two Monks on a Motorcycle: Corporate Zen Stories

Day 105

Every office has that one person—the sage, the oracle, the all-seeing seer. Many years ago, in our office, it was Rajiv, a man who seemingly knew everything before it happened. Promotions, layoffs, mergers—Rajiv could predict them all. His colleagues called him “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow,” but not always with admiration.

Rajiv’s talent wasn’t rooted in divine foresight or a secret deal with HR. No, he was a master of office gossip, facial cues, and vague statements that somehow always aligned with reality. “Something big is coming,” he’d say. And of course, something big always did come eventually—it’s corporate life, after all.

I first encountered Rajiv’s prophetic powers during a quarterly review. “This isn’t looking good for Marketing,” he whispered ominously. Two weeks later, the Marketing VP resigned. Coincidence? Maybe. But Rajiv’s reputation soared.

His methods were as fascinating as they were dubious. He’d lean in conspiratorially and drop hints like, “Have you noticed how often the CFO has been meeting with the IT team? Something’s brewing.” Sure enough, an ERP overhaul was announced a month later.

Over time, his predictions became a self-fulfilling prophecy. If Rajiv said layoffs were coming, productivity plummeted as panic spread. The poor HR team had to issue countless clarifications. “No, there are no layoffs planned. Please focus on your work.” But by then, Rajiv had moved on to his next revelation.

One day, I decided to test him. “Rajiv,” I asked, “What’s the next big thing for me?” He studied me like a fortune-teller sizing up a crystal ball. “I see... a big shift in your career. Start updating your resume.”

I laughed it off—until I got promoted three months later. Was it luck? Was it skill? Or was it Rajiv’s eerie ability to plant seeds of doubt and ambition simultaneously? I’ll never know.

But like all legends, Rajiv’s reign eventually came to an end. His downfall was the annual appraisal season. He confidently predicted a massive restructuring in Finance. When nothing happened, the finance team staged a surprise potluck in his honor, complete with a cake that read, “Better Luck Next Tomorrow.”

Rajiv took it in stride, claiming he’d “misread the signs” but would come back stronger. And he did—predicting the office air-conditioning upgrade months before it was officially announced.

Even now, when I hear whispers in the breakroom, I wonder if Rajiv’s legacy lives on. Corporate life is unpredictable, but one thing’s for sure: every office needs a Rajiv. After all, what’s work without a little drama, a little mystery, and “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow”?