On a beautiful spring day 3 ½ years ago, I wrote the voiceover to the very first video we posted on this site. I was thinking about how grateful I was to be out and running, and that spurred me to review all the things I was grateful for, which is why I wrote the line, “Be grateful that you work with at least some people you like.”
I was thinking about this line because recently we’ve been looking to fill a position at Diva. And it’s such a crapshoot. To paraphrase Sophie Tucker, “I’ve had good and bad, and good is better.” I want someone that’s smart, and can write a letter in less than four weeks, and who didn’t get an MA in cut and paste, but rather brings creativity to their work—and if I’m giving my wish list, I would like to actually “like” them, to find them interesting, their personality, ideas, humor. That would be amazing, but I understand that would be a ‘want’ not a ‘need.’
Recently, I thought I found someone and he accepted my offer which was pending a reference check. He told me how excited he was to be working with us, and and the next day I called his references. Which turned out, let’s just say, odd. One of them was answered by an Arabic speaking answering service, which repeatedly disconnected my call. Another said that the candidate was great—but the reference couldn’t comment on any of the skills I needed, as the candidate has never actually done them in the reference’s employ. And then, the new hire disappeared. He was supposed to send me something—he didn’t. I emailed him to see what was going on– and I never heard another word from him again.
Clearly this guy was full of crap and I feel I’ve dodged a bullet, and hired someone else. And I pray that it will be a good shiddach.
But in dodging that bullet, I am reminded of how grateful I am for all the good people I work with. For every malcontent that enjoys poisoning the environment and slandering others, there are two more who work hard and bring joy to me and everyone else around them. For every Evil CEO I have had to deal with, there are three coworkers who fight in the trenches with me. For every person who hides their ignorance and lack of skills behind an attitude of dogmatism, there is my work -husband who is probably the founder of my fan club! For every immoral colleague who slept with his assistant, played fast and loose with his budget and who made me want to shower even after a simple phone call, I have David– husband, colleague, coworker, masseur and my own personal MacGyver.
How grateful am I? I have just begun to count the ways.
