Diplomat's Daily Quotable- 'A'

Absence:

"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."

This is such a true statement.  Meetings/briefings can truly be torture at times, but if you aren't there to defend/direct the conversation you can be sure that you (or your office) will receive the majority of the tasking doled out as a result of the meeting. 

Or you or your organization might find itself on the 'chopping block'....