 Why did Kalvin commit to Piltdon’s unreasonable deadline?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, August 1958. "Feetch!" grated Ogden Piltdon, president of the Piltdon Opener Company, slamming the drafting board with his hairy fist, "I want results!" "But Mr. Piltdon," remonstrated Feetch unsteadily under his employer's glare, "don't you remember? Our own Piltdon opener barely manages to open a can in eight point nine without chimes. It has dignity...." "Dignity," pronounced Piltdon, "is for museums. I want it completely developed, engineered and tooled-up, ready for production. "But Mr. Piltdon, four months is hardly time enough for development, even with an adequate staff. Four months, Feetch, no more!" A designer had to dream at his board, investigate, search, build, test, compare, discard. He had always wanted to devote all his time to research, but Piltdon Opener had not given him that opportunity. Twenty-five years of close supervision, dead-lines, production headaches, inadequate facilities and assistance. What had happened, to the proud dream he once had, the dream of exploring uncharted engineering regions, of unlimited time to investigate and develop? Ah, well, thought Feetch straightening his thin shoulders, he had managed somehow to design a few good things during his twenty-five years with Piltdon. It might seem that use of the proper gear ratios would give the required velocity, but there were too many other factors that negated this direct approach. Twenty-five years of your life you put in with Piltdon, and he'd fire you just like that if you don't do the impossible. The Piltdon Company is built upon your designs and you get handed this deal!" Nine completed and tested, two in work. Several days later, however, Piltdon himself charged into the drawing room and slapped Feetch heartily on the back, causing him to break a pencil point. I recommend that we delay production until further research can be completed. The first tentative shipments of Piltdon Super-Openers had gone to distributors along the Eastern seaboard. The first reorders came back, and then: "It's a sell-out!" Receiving no satisfactory explanation from Piltdon, they set up their own research. Competitors found the patent impossible to circumvent, for any departure from its exact specifications nullified the effect. Piltdon, genial these days with success and acclaim, roared at Feetch: "I'm putting you in for a raise.
 He didn’t want to lose his job.
 He felt challenged to develop creative solutions.  He didn’t want to lose his job.  He wanted to earn recognition.  He was able to hire more staff.