On the bosses of holidays past.
TweetI’ve been fortunate to work with some of the brightest and most creative people in the communications business, both as bosses and mentors and as colleagues and, most luckily for me, as direct reports.
One of my bosses always used to say that everything was analogous to dating. Another that the PR business, mostly about service, always comes down to waitressing — taking the order and organizing all the chairs in the room. (To this point, I always ask new professionals about their college jobs — not the internships, but the ones “off the resume.” I’ve found that students who get rehired by their hometown employers summer after summer often understand more about service than those who’ve spent four summers interning.)
One boss used to remind us that it was all about the lighting — you know, nobody ever looks good in flourescent lighting. Another taught me how important it was to control the things you can control — they are few and far between, and it keeps you prepared for those things you cannot control (most everything else!).
One boss shared the secret to staffing client events was to always keep busy; let the client staff enjoy the press event because we’re hired to staff it for them. (I still almost never eat at press events for fear the moment someone is going to need me is the moment I’m chewing on a bagel.)
I learned how to travel smartly, and to make every business trip special by finding a personal moment or site to see and remember. I haven’t yet tried one tip a boss shared: Wear your nearly-worn-out shirts on the trip and then just leave them behind, leaving suitcase room for gifts or, if New York, new shirts.
Oh yeah, I learned real stuff, too. About clipping and copying at first, but then pitching and writing, planning and programming, predicting and analyzing, being strategic and knowing when “being strategic” means keeping quiet. About connecting with others and about sharing what I’ve learned, starting the cycle anew. About business. About ethics, doing the right thing, all the time.
It’s the holiday season, and when I see the names on our family card list, I’m reminded of the many people with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working over the past two decades. And although 2010 isn’t “technically” the start of a new decade, it will be for me, as I officially embark on my third decade of my career. I don’t know what it’s going to bring, but I’m going to “control the things I can control,” and be optimistic about everything else. Something Great is about to happen, and I can’t wait!
Happy holidays, everyone!
