Choose Wisely- Is It A Dream Or A Nightmare?

I recently had an opportunity to apply for a position at a marketing firm in New York City. And when I discovered the job post, I thought this could be my “Golden Ticket!” I had hopes of a long-term, mutually profitable relationship. And to be honest, there was a desire to rise to the challenge and secure this job. I wanted to be a part of a respected company and work with the best of the best. And sadly, my ego pushed me to ignore the early signs that something was not what it should be.

I worked my way through the hours of online testing and then got to speak to one of the partners during his drive home that evening. When told that he would call me back because he needed to get out of the car and speak to whoever was honking at him, I should have realized that this was not a prime opportunity. But my ego and enthusiasm took the reins and talked me into overlooking this blazing red flag.

When the conversation resumed, I was told that my skills barely earned me this phone call and that I should think long and hard about the writing sample before accepting it. Should I take it, I would be eliminating the opportunity for someone who might be better suited or qualified for the job. And then another 5-minutes of reasons why my work was not up to their standards. Again, I chose to ignore the red flags flapping in the breeze as decorations and not a warning to stop trying to enter this “castle.” But I took the leap and requested the sample information.

The assignment was short and sweet. Write an 850-word blog for a fictitious private school. All I had was the name and word count. But was told that this is how many of their assignments were presented. I completed the blog in the set timeframe and returned it, still hoping for a positive outcome. And I must admit that I smiled when I got the email saying that the editors approved the piece, and the partner wanted to speak to me again.

Once again, he was driving. I think this might have been his way of staying entertained during his commute. But he was anything but kind. First, he said that he hated the topic, keywords, and tone. Next, he criticized his staff for passing the piece on to him and not throwing it away. Then he circled back to me for another 10-minutes of belittling and shaming for lack of a better term. His overall opinion was that he did not see the blog’s point or how his staff could have understood my point. I was sure he would soon reach his destination and simply hang up on me. If only that had been the case.

Next, he reminded me that he would put me at the very low end of his pay scale, and I would need 110% dedication to “make it” working for him. I would need to improve in many areas. But he never offered a single word of constructive or useful advice or direction on the material to learn or improve. He closed by saying that I would probably be miserable if I took the job. But he was going to need to think about it before offering me anything. I was left thinking that he really did subscribe to the old joke that the brow beatings will continue until morale improves.

As I thought about this experience and the person I had been speaking to over the week plus, I wondered why I was fighting and clawing to “earn the right” to work for him. This was not a person I wanted to emulate or even be forced to deal with regularly. And I certainly didn’t want to make money for him. I thought he represented all of the career goals that I had set for myself. But in reality, he was everything I pray I never become. Rude, ill-mannered, self-centered, unprofessional, and unkind just begin to scratch the surface.

Here was a person with “several degrees,” as he put it, and decades of experience in the trenches. He was in the perfect position to plant hundreds of seeds for the future. A few years of guidance and he would have more writers than he knew what to do with, and likely a massive income from their work. But he chose to use a flame thrower and see who would be the last man or woman standing. This was not the place for me, or for any other human being.

I would have no idea if he pondered the idea of hiring me or not. But I reflected for a day or two on the idea of working for him. And when summoned to another call by his secretary, I politely declined. I thanked them for the learning experience and wished them the best. He would have had no interest in hearing my reasons for walking away at that point. He is not the type of person to listen to or learn from a lesser person or writer’s comments.

Oddly, I do feel that I owe him a great deal. This was yet another reminder of what really matters. Sure the paycheck would be nice. And working for a somewhat prestigious firm would be good for my aging ego. But I am far from ready to sell out my ethics, morals, and sense of responsibility to others for the position.

This experience came at a perfect time for me. I was fortunate enough to be working with a wonderful friend and colleague who is getting ready to start her own blog. She came to me with questions, and we have chatted at length about some of the technical and overall challenges she will face. And it was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding tasks I can recall. She is excited, eager, and maybe even a little nervous. But for all the right reasons. And I am so honored that she asked for my opinion and input. She reminded me of one of the biggest reasons I love writing. I want to touch people’s hearts. I want to make them smile or feel less alone. I want to offer a positive experience for each reader, co-worker, and colleague. And I never want to be the reason someone thinks less of their skills, ability, or choice to be a writer or anything else in this lifetime.

So after a few weeks of this refresher course, I am happy to say that I have relearned an important lesson. Be careful what you wish for and the choices that you make when chasing your dreams. Be sure that you are really chasing a dream and not just some shiny object or image that holds no meaning or value. And if a potential boss stops your interview to get out of the car and pick a fistfight, maybe you should reconsider your options.