...you can be doing something like...well, typing up a document and you will still be able to have thoughts flitting through your mind about something else? All without making a mistake (you proofread what you typed)? How weird is that?
I was typing up the introduction to my book after I had gone over it several times and made a few minor corrections. When I began typing it, mostly in autopilot, I started thinking about when I had the job I loved the most. I was a copywriter for an advertising company. My major job was writing commercials for various clients that used us for their TV, radio and newspaper advertising. Oh, we also did brochures and other printed matter for them, too, but that depended on what their business was. Heck, we even made arrangements for things like pens, calendars, keychains and many types of giveaway items for them also. We had several different suppliers we worked with but always made sure our clients got the very best prices. That was much easier for US due to the fact that we had such a large client base. But I digress....
This was actually my dream job. I didn't have a degree that qualified me for the job but what I DID have was talent. I didn't start out copywriting. I began in Customer Service. Since we had a national customer base and several hundred various clients, there were six of us Customer Service reps. We each had a different area of the country that we took care of and would put in the requests for whatever the client wanted and the information applicable to ensure they got what they wanted. The copywriters got the requests for anything that needed to be written up and also worked with the artists on printed matter for publication, TV storyboards, T-shirt designs, etc. All these requests included the dates that the clients needed them. We submitted these to the Traffic Dept. and they were then assigned to various copywriters.
I did, at times, if there was a rush on a radio commercial, write up the script myself. I knew the clients better than the writers did most of the time so I would write it up, call the client, read the copy to them and get their approval. If they didn't like it, I would ask more questions and then write up another script. Once I had their approval, it went to the Head writer and I would explain to him why I had gone ahead and written the script for the customer. He would then read it, make sure it fit with their campaign, initial it and I would then take it to the Recording studio and give it to the head of that department for recording.
Now, I really didn't have to have the Head writer initial what I had done. If the customer approved it, that was all that was required. But I had a plan. I wanted to prove to the Head writer that I had talent. I wanted to become known for being able to be helpful when needed. The writers all seemed to be overloaded all the time so I knew help was needed.
The gal that was in charge of Traffic (she handed out the various assignments and kept track of making sure that they were ready when needed), got to know my work because she also was one of the *voices* used in the radio commercials. She liked some of the humorous ones I wrote and felt I tailored all my work to the areas of the country that I covered (mostly the Midwest and Central Plains areas). I was from the Chicago area and I knew people in many of the states I took care of as a customer service rep. She was a true blue New Yawker (forgive me) from Brooklyn and didn't really understand the difference in the way they thought. I did. It helped a lot.
Little-by-little, she started asking me for my help when the other writers were behind in their assignments. I would take care of writing whatever they needed, going over it with them and getting their approval and then rush it into her hands so she could hit whatever department head with the need for a rush. I ended up doing that for her a LOT! Even the Head writer started coming to me for help when he saw a lot of assignments in one of the writers inboxes and he would find one or two that needed to be done right away.
One day, the big boss came into my office after a meeting that had been held with all the department heads. He asked me to come into his office after lunch (he was on his way out to lunch at the time) because he wanted to discuss a problem with me. I was a wreck when he left. I figured I was going to be chewed out or at least told I couldn't write any more since it *wasn't my job* and I knew how unqualified I was for it in his eyes. He was BIG on have degrees from college...and not the 2 year kind, either.
So, after lunch, I presented myself and was ushered into his very plush office and I sat down. I hoped my voice wasn't going to crack as I braced myself for what I knew was coming. I also didn't want to cry...not in front of him, anyway. I was totally taken aback by his complementing me on how well my customers told him that they enjoyed having me as their rep. *Ut oh,* I thought. I'm going to get fired. Why I thought that, I can't really explain.
He then went on to ask why this one gal in our department was so upset by me. A light bulb came on in my head. I told him that I knew she wanted the job as Customer service department head and she felt I was standing in her way both because of how the customers liked me and because I was senior to her with the company. I told him I had told her that I didn't want the job but she didn't believe me since she thought it was such a desirable position and would give anyone status. That's when he leaned back, looked intently at me and then said, *Well, if you aren't interested in being the head of customer service, what is it that you would like to do?
That's when I took my chance and said, *I want to write, Sir. I have been doing a lot of it to help out (head writer) and (traffic department) for several months now and I think I have proven that I have talent for it.* I then shut my mouth and just waited to see what questions he might ask or if he would give me a speech about no degree...whatever. I braced myself and tried not to show how all the nerves in my body were just chattering (at least it wasn't my teeth!). Imagine my surprise when he said, *Well, I have no say so in that area so you have to discuss it with (head writer). If he approves, then you can move into that department...with whatever salary he feels you should have, of course.* I almost couldn't stand up, my knees were so weak but I thanked him and said I would go talk to (head writer) right away.
As I turned to leave, he said two more things to me. *Oh, and if he approves, give (bad mouthing gal) all YOUR client folders...or should I just have (janitor/handyman) bring a dolly and move your file cabinet? I'll make sure you get another, smaller, one for your supplies, of course. You can also keep your office. It's much nicer than any of the ones you would have to take if you moved into the writers area. I like the ambiance and decorations you have in it, by the way.* With that he chuckled and I left.
The head writer approved of my becoming one of *his* people and was glad I got to keep my office where it was. All he had available were two very small offices and I think he was using one of them for some things he was storing. My salary was darn near double what I had been making in customer service (and I wasn't getting as much as he said he would like to give me since he knew how productive I was while also tending to my CS duties. He said he would not be able to justify it to (Big Boss) without my having a degree or without a track record that (Big Boss) could see.
When (Bad mouthing b**ch) heard about my *promotion*, she was livid since it was a much better promotion than her coveted one was. I just smiled when she came to congratulate me (ever the Southern gal...butter wouldn't melt in her mouth). **Muttering under my breath..hypocritical little back-stabber**. Her smile was almost brittle...LOL.
So there's the story of how I got the job I loved the most out of all my jobs. It was my dream come true. It might not have been writing for a newspaper or magazine but it was a great way to have to use my imagination and creativity. Those were the days, my friend.....
Love you all. I hope your Monday wasn't too much of a shock to your system and your weather was manageable. Be happy. Be kind to yourself and others. Inspire a smile on the faces of the people around you by spreading yours around generously! ***Hugs***
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