An Unexpected Gift - When You Have the Perfect Job
Yesterday my company held their monthly “roundup” meeting. We get together once a month so everyone can learn what everyone else is doing - so they can tell us where we stand on new and old contracts, benefits, and spot award can be given out. I work for a wonderful company. They care about the people that they employ, they listen, and they have provided (for me, anyway) a pretty nearly perfect work environment, for which I repay them with a lot of hard work and nearly 30 years of electronics and computer skill. But I digress.
I go to these meetings a little early because I need to set up a laptop to project the agenda for the meeting, and help whoever’s turn it is to talk about what they do set up their powerpoint slides. This time, just after getting the computer setup, I noticed someone new had joined us. Trish was there, dressed up, looking beautiful, and smiling like a goon. She wouldn’t talk about why she was there, or about the big bag she had with her…neither would Jeanne, our Managing Partner, ALSO smiling.
Long story short? My CEO - Stan - organized a mass buy-up of copies of my books from the net, bookstores, and a few behind my back from Trish. They made a big deal announcement at the beginning of the meeting that I’d won The Bram Stoker Award for my short story “The Gentle Brush of Wings,” and that I now shared honors with a long list of very talented writers. After the meeting they sat me at a table, and I signed all those books, which they gave away free to my fellow employees, many of which, while sort of aware that I was a writer, had no idea I had so many books out, or that I was actually GOOD at it (lol).
It was a wonderful surprise…the kind my company keeps heaping on me. Not many jobs like this one to be found…
DNW
07/24/08, 11:01 AM |
WOW.
Stan needs to be complimented on his style of business management and the attention he pays to his employees.
I wonder if the next thing I say will make sense? If I that happened to me, I think I would be feeling that yes, winning the Stoker is a huge accomplishment but for some reason, being awarded that level of love and respect from someone who has nothing to do with publishing seems bigger. (and I’m only guessing you don’t work at a publishing house and if it was me, I wouldn’t be working at one either-LOL)
How great!!
07/24/08, 11:05 AM |
No, we work in government logistics, mostly for the USCG. And yes, it’s much more fulfilling to have those you work with and that have no “horse in the race” be happy for you and your award than it is to be in the midst of a bunch of others just hoping to win it…if that makes sense.
They are wonderful people.
David
07/24/08, 11:31 AM |
Makes total sense. The “horse in the race” describes it perfectly.
07/24/08, 12:39 PM |
I can relate in a lot of ways; though I don’t think the management here will ever spring for a big load of my books, our CEO picked up several copies of BLUE DEVIL ISLAND — one for himself and some for friends and family (including his dad, who was a WWII [Pac theater] vet and called me to tell me how much he enjoyed the book).
Halloween is a big thing where I work, too, which is great. Every year, there are costume contests, jack-o’-lantern carving contests, and a reading of scary tales — by yours truly. There are better jobs and worse jobs, but I do feel pretty dang lucky to have it as well as I do. Most people I know sure don’t.
–M
07/24/08, 12:42 PM |
I thought it was cool to have some GOOD things to say about the place I work…so many people seem unhappy. Hell, *I* used to be unhappy.
D