be free

Years ago, I had a job that I hated. I had a two-year commitment and barely made it to nine months. It wouldn't have been so bad except that (a) it was monkey work -- not very challenging, which in itself wouldn't have been so bad, except that (b) counterparts in our own group were trying -- not so subtly -- to sabotage our work.

(Backstory: the counterparts were called product managers and had been both writing and acquiring business. When they complained that they couldn't get their work done because they were so busy writing, management hired four writers. This meant that the product managers actually had to acquire business, which they didn't know how to do. So they set out to destroy the writers in an effort to make themselves look better. No, it doesn't make any sense, which is only part of why this job was so very miserable.)

So when I finally got a new job and was able to escape, Robert sent a balloon bouquet with a card that said enfin libre, a reference back to MLK, Jr's "free at last." Except that no one in my group had the French or the history to understand, so everyone thought the gesture was deeply romantic, which it was also.


Two years ago, I was hating my job again, and was getting ready to leave IBM. Nearly everyone I worked with complained incessantly, so no one took the whining very seriously. I went out to lunch with a friend and told him I was thinking seriously about leaving, but given that I didn't have a job to go to, he offered his moral support, and I'm sure thought we'd leave it at that. Except I was serious and eventually did leave.

That day, I was wearing one of the company's latest shirts with our new tagline. My friend was facing me all through lunch, so just saw the company's logo on the front. However, when we returned from lunch, I proceeded him down the hallway and turned around when I heard him roaring with laughter. The back of my shirt said Be liberated, a nice philosophy all around.

And about two weeks ago, our vp of marketing presented the newest ad campaign to the company. The tagline? Be free. I can't help but wonder what's in store for me next.