Work Weirdness

My friend Jan, in response to my post about Clowns, reminded me that she once had a job where she had to dress and act clownish. Not her idea of a good time.

When I graduated from college, I worked in a small ad agency and did a lot of things that they did not prepare me for during my education. Then I moved to the corporate world at the entry level. Yeah! I am a baby executive and I'll earn my stripes. I was hired in the marketing department to do mainly copy writing and some account service. This was the 80s and bank marketing involved a lot of branch openings. So, you coordinate the ribbon cutting ceremony, you arrange the coffee and danish, you get the proper city officials to appear, you coordinate the contests.

At the time, we had a children's savings account, "The Squirrel Account." It had lots of fun things for kids to help them learn about money management, savings and a coloring book that helped them learn some terminology. The Squirrel Account's mascot was Filbert the Squirrel. He showed up at branch openings and charmed the children.

At least twice, I had someone bail on me and I became Filbert at the last moment. I tried very hard not to imagine how many people had worn this heavy, sweaty, disgusting suit.

They did not train me for this in journalism school. But, I did it.

When my maniac dog barks at squirrels, I bark too. I've been a squirrel; I don't want to do it again.

Spay and Neuter Day

I get a little tired of the "Cause of the day/month." Right now it's Black History Month. Next will be Colon Cancer Month, Lung Cancer Month, etc. These are all good causes; I just don't need it shoved down my throat.

Yet, here I go ...

Today is Spay and Neuter day. I feel a little like Bob Barker. "Spay and neuter your pets!" He used to end his sign off on The Price is Right with this saying.

Pedigree dog food is running a series of TV commercials that send me over the edge. Homeless dogs, abandoned pets, etc. They give a portion of their proceeds to appropriate kennels and humane societies. I've been involved in marketing for most of my adult life so I know how difficult it is to get someone to change brands or change behavior.

My spoiled rotten dog doesn't know it but we're changing dog foods.

Surprisingly Upbeat!

Did you ever see that movie, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days? It's completely a chick flick and I love it.

She's a writer and he's in marketing -- both fields I have dipped a toe in -- and the premise is ridiculous but it's fun to watch.

Here's my favorite part. As they pitch stories or ideas to the editor in charge, everything is very morose or maudlin, "but surprisingly upbeat!"

I'm in touch.

Writers are Needy People

I've worked as a writer and a marketing person for more than 22 years. If you throw in my time in journalism school and even my time in high school (yearbook staff, etc.) and various other writing pursuits, you've added another 8 years. That's a long time.

It doesn't get any easier. And, I love to write. But there's a point where the paper leaves your hand or you hit "send" on the email and it's terrifying.

Marketing gives you a buffer. There's a team involved. If the client hates it, you can tell yourself that the design needs to be better or the account liaison could have presented it with more enthusiasm. When it's just words and someone has hired you to compose them, it's a little like saying, "Don't you think my baby is cute?" If you're going to continue, some thick skin needs to grow.

Personal writing is equally scary. There's no editor or client. It's throwing caution to the wind -- thoughts, emotions, and opinions are sent out for anyone and everyone to agree/disagree or maybe laugh at you.

I write every single day of my life. I am rarely without a notebook. In that unusual occasion, I have written ideas on ATM receipts, cocktail napkins, deposit slips, etc. Some of my copy is written for clients and a lot shows up on this blog. Other things get tucked in a notebook for future reference. Some items go in a journal that (hopefully) allows me to go back and achieve perspective.

So, I send copy to a client or I send a blog posting into cyberspace. Then I pace around, check email, and hope they thought the baby was cute.

When the oldies first joined us (23 months and two weeks ago,) she would ask me, "What do you do on the computer all day?"

I'm writing. That's who I am.