Tuesday, July 11, 2006
The Devil Wears A Not So Brooks Brother's Suit
Funny how a fictional plot or story can mirror your own life. Though I have not read the book(yet), I saw the movie
The Devil Wears Prada. In light of it's comic relief, it wasn't until in recent days that I felt that it somewhat mirrors my own life. Think about it. On the humble I hooked a job that is right up my alley and that is sure to open the doors of opportunity for me, just as the main character of the story did. However, their are a few differences. One difference being, my boss is a Black male that is running is own company. The second difference being, while the character's boss was known as the "dragon lady" for her beyond bitchy attitude and persona, my boss is a bit more tame than that....A LOT more tame.
Yet, since last Friday, Mr. Yellow has been a pain in my ass. It started with a phone call he placed to the office while he had briefly stepped away. When I was told he was looking to speak with me I picked up, only to hear him ask me the same question he had asked me only 15 minutes prior to his phone call. It was in regards to calling a couple of publications about receiving their permission to reprint their story. Before I could fully explain everything to him, he cut me off inquring further and even questioned my method of action.
I tried my best not to get "huffy" about it, but his comments were irritating as he sat on the phone and explained something to me that I already knew. When he was done and as calmly as I could, I told him that I understood what he was saying, however, what he explained really didn't apply to what we were dealing with. The phone call did end on a professional note, but I was still left a bit annoyed by his comments and questions. Actually, this was part of the reason why I was annoyed about the Saturday staff meeting that followed. I was not in the mood to look in Mr. Yellow's face still. I was a bit at ease once I found out that he wasn't showing up, but still annoyed about the fact that we were having a Saturday meeting and even more annoyed at myself for agreeing with it, even if it was at the Ritz Carlton in Georgetown.
When Monday rolled around, I was fine until Mr. Yellow came to me towards the end of the day and inquired about an article I am writing for another publication the firm produces. Initially, I was to have the article done by close of business on Monday, but I was bombarded with another issue that literally took all day. I told Mr. Yellow, about what happend and told him I would have the article ready to be sent for review the next day. It was then he wanted to get pickey and pick with my words. Initially I said I would "try" to go over it that evening at home, but when he seemed to have an issue with my operative word "try" that's when I said I'll have it ready for sure by the next day.
I didn't even make apologies about using the word "try." As I said before I'm stickler for not bringing work home. Unless it's something of an emergency then I'll do it, but otherwise when I'm off the clock....I'm off the clock.
Well, sure enough, the first thing Mr. Yellow inquired about this morning was the status of the article. I kept trying to hold him at bey as much as I could, however, the same issue that I dealt with on Monday, came up again today. Basically, the issue is pertaining to a networking event given by the magazine, that Mr. Yellow left up to May and I to plan. Origninally, he gave me information about the event almost a month ago, but he didn't bring May in on things until two weeks after he had given me the information. This is event is suppose to be small, but still a big "whoopty doo."
By the time May joined in, the place for the event had already been booked and the light refeshments already planned. All that left to do was book a speaker, seek sponsorship(s) and start marketing this event. The event was originally set for this month, but because of the other needed factors, May and I felt that the event would have to be pushed back. Actually, once we got the designers invovled as well, all of felt the same way. Having this event in July was a bit too soon with small man power that he has.
For a while, Mr. Yellow was being very bullheaded about not moving the event. May and I held a conference call with him this morning. I understood full well where he was coming from about the lack of setting firm deadlines, and his need to be competitive with other firms that are doing the same thing, but what he wasn't understanding was that quality does go hand and hand with timing. His thought process was more of, that quality has nothing to do with it, it's more of bad planning. While this is true, we were trying to assure him that there was no bad planning on our parts, and that May and I were actually trying to get things done to ensure this event is a success. Yet, the fact of the matter still remained, that if we did go forth with the event being this month, it would be rushed and by the time people received an invite, there wouldn't be ample amount of time for them to RSVP. Also, the speaker that I finally found was able to commit to the month of August and not July.
What pissed me off about the conversation, was Mr. Yellow's arrogance and sarcastically filled comments. He willing admitted to being narrow minded about the idea of the event being pushed back until August. His comments of "good job" or "how considerate," were not in sincere form. His whole tone was sarcastic.
He finally let up and agreed to move the date back to August. However, he claimed he was doing so to prove a point about the whole quality vs. timing issue. Then stressed the fact that he would have an issue that when the event time is near that we would still be scrambling. I didn't even bother to entertain his comments. I told him thank you and I gave him a brief update of what has already been taken care and left it at that.
Even after this morning call with May, he was still being a pain in my ass. Every few minutes to an hour he buzzed over the intercom asking me about the story I was writing. Finally, around the sixth time he buzzed me to not only check the status of the sotry but to alert me of a phone call, I told him I was trying to finish it up, but I was continously being interrupted. He told me he would tell the person to call me back and he left me alone. Well... he didn't leave me alone for a long. An hour or so after the last buzz, he buzzed me again. That time I told him I would have ready within in five minutes.
All in all, I was able to get a first draft of the story done and sent out for review. With only an hour and half left to go for the day, I had took a breather and walked to the nearby cafe to get a muffin and a Sprite. I had missed lunch and I was dealing with a dull headache.
Somehow I mananged to perk up when I received a call from Nisha. She was letting me know that she was preparing her apartment for my visit and she can't wait until I arrive. She asked me was I excited about coming to Miami. Immediately, I grinned and said... "hell yea!"
Just one thing though, I still need to pack!
Posted by KomplexPhemale ::
11:59 PM ::
1 Comments:
Post a Comment
---------------oOo---------------