My president, CFO, marketing VP, and licensing VP began meeting weekly without me. When our new VP of human resources joined the company in the fall of 1999, he was invited to join the weekly “no Phil” meetings. He declined. Our executive vice president, a good friend of mine with a background in Christian ministry, was never invited. I had no idea the meetings were even taking place. Lines were being drawn. Sides were being chosen. People, I was learning, were nothing like computers.