Thursday, September 29, 2011

A Late Night.

Can't sleep yet 'cause I got home slightly after 11 from a farewell dinner for an ex-colleague. A couple of things on my mind while I'm trying to cool off before going to bed. This is a good avenue to mention them.

1. We presented to a potential client this morning. Of which, I sent the deck to my boss last evening for him to look through and prepare, since he and the creative guy would be presenting. But knowing how things can go wrong, I took time this morning to mentally rehearse, just in case everything goes wrong. Everything went okay though, boss presented the front parts, the creative guys on the creative parts. Until the end of the presentation which required some explaining on the campaign audit, my boss gave me the eye, nodding as though asking me to present those. I went ahead. Although not as smooth as my golden toastmaster days, I think it was okay since I didn't really rehearse. I didn't bull shit, I spoke logically. Thank god for impromptu speaking skill training from table topics.

Bro thinks that boss chut stunt, mum thinks that da boss is just testing water to see if I did my homework. Of course I did lah... For one, I cannot not know what's going on since I'm one of the project owners. Two, obviously I can't let everyone and my agency look bad in front of the client right? I really wonder what is the agenda behind it. But we will know in time. We shall see.

2. One of my clients resigned and will be leaving this week. She isn't the nicest or easiest client around. We started off not on a very good note. But among those were good periods of working relationship that got things moving.

I sent her a personal note wishing her all the best, and of course nice things. No white washing, I wrote with sincerity, it was not a cut and paste note from the net. I thought that it's just being nice on my part and a formality.

Boss calls me a drama queen, but I bet somewhere in you know that I did the right thing. Everyone I mentioned this to, agrees.

I guess that's why we say, project management is about doing things right, leadership is about doing the right things.

Saturday, September 03, 2011

Topsy Turvy.

I survived my 6 months. Things are changing however. When I was super duper swarmed one week, one of my major projects was diverted to another person while I handled another account. Since then, the new client who didn't exactly get her way does not want to work with me anymore, most probably perhaps I'm "stricter with her", as my boss puts it. We had a conflict the moment she took over the account, and I didn't really give in. Even with new ads, she prefers that my partner-in-crime takes over for "one point of contact". Boss says to let it go and remarked that I should be happy not having to work with her. Told me not to kill myself and participate in other stuff instead. Well, all her other colleagues have the one point of contact - me, except her. Oh well, whatever. Guess I just have to go with the flow, help out with a pitch and learn more stuff.

A copywriter tendered her resignation two weeks ago. Last that I heard today, da boss hasn't found a suitable replacement. There are a few things that can happen:

1. Work is diverted to the other writers.
2. Boss does it himself. (Which he wouldn't have time to vet some tons of ads a day.)
3. Grab someone who has writing experience to help out.

That someone could jolly well be me. I'm a little worried that it would be me. I really don't wanna write anymore, although some copyvetting is still fine, if I'm not busy.

Let's just wait and see. Meanwhile, I have fallen victim to viruses. Runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, body aches. Can't afford a MC in the next 4 weeks - crunch time. How?