The Pony Express?!
2007 August 3
At a recent professional development networking meeting, I heard myself say, “Nowadays, anytime I send an e-mail, I expect a response in five minutes!” Instantly, I was perturbed at my flimsy and phony effort to join the conversation. What? As opposed to when I launched my career and we had to wait on the Pony Express?!
As a professional just less than five years in the working world, I still maintain links to my pre-pro mindset. I join in with my other PR friends, seriously discussing our latest press releases or successful publicity stories, but I’m also waiting for a lull in the conversation to see who’s up for happy hour.
Especially during networking opportunities like the one I mentioned, it’s a playground for all the young professionals to prove their abilities and garner respect among the more seasoned folk. We all sit with our suits on, checking our Treos for e-mails, talking about how “slammed” we are and how late we work, our eyes getting bigger as we describe our quarterly numbers … I can’t help but wonder if, like me, any of them just five minutes ago were trying to meet Mariah Carey’s high notes in the car. Or if they’re eager to get home to pop in a Cosby Show DVD to watch for a few hours while they eat cereal for dinner.
Anyone else know what I’m talking about? Or should I resign myself to being the odd one out, perpetually struggling between being a competent professional and having “Sweet, Sweet Fantasy Baby” running through my head?
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I think I saw a guy in a car next to me trying to hit a Mariah Carey note the other day. It didn’t look pretty. It couldn’t have sounded that way, either.
I’m just glad he tried. That’s what I like to hear.
that’s kind of one of the things I like about being a mathematician… most of the people I work with are fairly reality driven when it comes to work. In other words they’re basically brutally honest about everything. No PC, no schmoozing, just facts.
Unfortunatley that’s also the thing I dislike about working with Mathematicians…not a lot of room for schmoozing to pump up my lack of expertize in some field.
Also, sadly Mathematicians generally dislike things like the Treo. They probably feel like since it is fancy and easy to use it’s very undesirable. If they made a Treo that was run on Linux or Unix then you’ve got yourself a bona fide mathematicians phone!
I’M THERE. not that i’m a yuppie, but i am married with kids and that’s generally not something you expect out of that group either. don’t fight the impromptu singing urges my friend.
I’m pretty sure it was me trying to hit the high note. I’m just glad I had the windows up so as to not damage anyone’s hearing.