And now for something different
An old colleague recently rejoined the company.
HR does this thing where she puts introductory calls on the directors’ calendars. Every new hire, no matter what their department or position, gets a 1:1 with leadership.
This month, we had a few new hires. So, she did something different and made it a party with all of them.
It was literally the cast of “Inside Out.” I am not going to say who was “Sadness.” But I will say the new staff got to see me conjure up some serious grace under pressure.
One wasn’t so new. He not only used to work here (and so did his mom, who I loved), but we met at ANOTHER publisher.
We actually sat back to back in a dark little office. He wrote copy; I was in marketing at the time.
I remembered him fondly because he was always kind and he loved to strum on his guitar when he was in deep thought.
He told the group he’s surprised I wasn’t a copywriter by now.
I laughed and said well who would edit all this stuff if I was out living the dream.
He said you use a lot of metaphors. You take people with you. You don’t leave anyone in the group — in meetings or in writing — behind. You make sure everyone goes on the journey with you. And that’s a hallmark of a great copywriter.
Friends, do you know how long it’s been since I wanted to cry HAPPY tears?
My own staff rocks the block too.
I need to pay these people more.
The same one who liked the special issue also messaged me yesterday that “Purple is your color!”
I said thanks but don’t you think I’m channeling Grimace or the Fruit of the Loom grapes.
She said we are the only two in our department old enough to know either one of those.
She’s not wrong.
