My kwoh foundurrrrrrr
It’s past midday and at Starbucks in Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa and I’m struggling to find a seat to sit my awesome self as there’s the “social distancing” rule still in play.
A friendly employee sees a dude sitting with a bag occupying a seat near him, not a human.
She asks the dude to please move the seat if no one is sitting there.
Incensed, he pauses blinking up at her then me then her before he dropped this line:
“But that seat is for my co-founder”.
I internally roll my eyes at the way he said that and suspect she did too.
“Is here right now?”
“No, but he’s coming, I’m keeping it”.
After some back and forth, he loses the argument and I get the seat.
And the kwooo foundurrrr never arrived in my two or so hours sitting there.
But that guy’s opening sentence stuck with me “but that seat is for my co-founder.”
It reeked of “just to let you know how important I am, I’m an actual co-founder. I’m a big deal, understand? I’m a BIG DEAL GODDAMNIT!!!”
It reminded me of my stint working in an agency when my job title and the powers it endowed me with gave me status.
For the uninitiated, when you’re a media strategist (in a media buying agency), the people who work at places you buy media from (i.e. billboard companies, radio companies, TV companies etc.) treat you more pleasantly than your average Joe.
They treat you like an old buddy, back slapping in faux comaradie as they regale you with gifts when they just “come to pop by” in the office as they dig you for information on whether you have any new marketing campaigns they can get a booking for, because, sales.
Ah yes, the good old days.
But something about that role always didn’t feel right.
I knew those guys treated me good because of what they can get.
It’s part of their job. The commissions are salubrious.
I remember how their tone changed when they found out I was resigning from the agency. They were cool with me because they assumed I was jumping to another ship, and hence could continue to benefit from the relationship. But nope, I was doing my own thing and they stopped being my friend LOL!
Such is life.
I’m glad I saw that though.
I’ve been in situations where, if I wanted to, could schmooze and befriend some high status people who can help my career. But I didn’t actually like them as people, so I chose not to. It never felt right with me.
Anyway, what’s the take away?
I mustn’t get my sense of importance from a title and I mustn’t try befriend people just for the exterior benefits I could gain.
Until next time!
Thomas
