Tag Archives: Anniversary

Communications, Personal Tale

Seven years of learning

Seven years ago, to the day I started working part time at a firm I wouldn’t ever have considered had it not landed at my feet. I was a free agent and swayed by the lure of security, while being able to retain some of my clients. The best of both worlds.

Gradually, three days a week turned into four, then five as colleagues jumped ship and my responsibilities grew. Free agent status dissolved. I was sucked into the employee vortex with all the trappings.

Former colleagues tell me they took bets from day 1 on how long I would stay. Consensus was that I’d be over the culture before the end of the six-month probation.

I stood up for myself and for those who didn’t and gave advice that leadership sometimes didn’t want to hear – that’s the role of a communications advisor.

I was with them through some hairy times and near misses – always with the good of the business in mind – that was the role. I stayed. 

I loved my work but I hated the job.

Much of the leadership had been there since university. They knew only their culture and feted longevity over diverse, global experience. It was a small and local but enforced policies like it was a Wall Street titan.

It was a tight club, and I would never belong. Still, I loved my work and hated the job.

Regrettably, and out of misguided loyalty, I declined plum, new career opportunities along the way.  I also declined the employer’s offer of their version of promotion. I loved my work but hated the job.

Shortly before a significant anniversary, and right before I was leaving for a month overseas, the firm decided communications was no longer a priority. Something about restructuring and no need for communications, blah, blah, you were great at your work but so long.

How could a business not have communications? How could a business eliminate a human (and their clients) only weeks short of a significant anniversary? All questions that ate at me for a week or two, until I was reminded by my tribe – I loved the work and hated the job.

I’d have liked to make the anniversary and the financial benefit that went with it. Lord knows, I earned it. The timing was no happy accident. Business will save $$$ where they can: People are collateral damage.

Today, instead of celebrating seven years with a generic email from HR, I’m marking seven years of learning.

I know exactly what I don’t and won’t tolerate in any workplace. I sleep well at night. I love life. I love my work, and I love my job.

Style

Happy Birthday to Me

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Ok, so my birthday is far enough past that I don’t feel completely gratuitous bragging about the most beautiful gift ever from the best husband ever. And before everyone prepares to retch slightly at all this syrupy joy, let me be honest.

Yes, dear husband does have excellent taste. But no, he wasn’t just randomly surfing vintage websites in search of the perfect gift for me. He did however take the hint when I thrust the laptop in front of him and sighed, “Isn’t this divine!”

It won’t surprise anyone who knows me that the chain comes from my favorite purveyor of high-end vintage clothes and accessories Rice and Beans Vintage. It is a vintage 1970s Gucci gold and enamel GG chain, which can be worn either as a belt or a necklace. It is casual and glamorous all at once.

My husband suggested I buy it as my birthday present and I followed orders. When he asked the next day if I planned to buy the necklace, it was already making its way from Maine to Brooklyn and it was worn out for the very first time to birthday dinner.

I don’t know if I am imagining it,  but there seems to be a resurgence of demand and adoration of the Gucci brand, which has played second fiddle on and off over the years to the ever fashionable Chanel. I’m merely an armchair follower of  haute  fashion, and a frugal one at that, but while Chanel is forever, Florence-based Gucci seems to have slipped on a hip, rejuvenated vibe as it celebrates its 90th anniversary.

At Milan Fashion Week, for instance, Gucci just unveiled its Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collection, loaded with color, fur and Fedoras to create what Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini called a “contemporary female dandy.” Giannini cited UK singer Florence Welch, of Florence and the Machine, as an inspiration for the collection.

Also feeding into Gucci’s celebratory vibe, the fashion house and Italian car giant Fiat used Milan’s Fashion Week to roll out the adorable  “500 by Gucci.”  The special edition and highly covetable version of Fiat’s iconic 500 car marks Gucci’s anniversary and the 150th anniversary of a unified Italian peninsula.

Gucci’s Giannini custom designed the zippy city-car, which comes in white or black and is distinguished from the regular Fiat 500 by Gucci’s signature green-red-green stripe. It will be sold online from April 1 to June 30, with a price tag beginning at 17,000 euros or roughly $24,000 US dollars.

I wonder how big a hint I will need to give dear husband for the car – in white please!