What’s it like working in an industry in which I have
absolutely no history? To sit at an open space tribicle (three cubicles), and
have a Mac desktop dock downloaded with software dedicated solely to this
industry?
While I’ve never been directly asked this verbally, the eyes
say a lot. When the company for which I work for is introduced, I’m assumed to
be one of them. One of my co-workers. The presumption is an honor - but once
the preliminary introduction is out of the way and the perfunctory handshake is
shook, they really want to know, what’s my position if I’m not in their league?
A marketing administrative assistant? Wait, how can I be a Girl Friday if I
only work Tuesday-Thursday?
I have one program that individuals, kids, parents, college
students, teachers use worldwide, so what’s so special about that? Microsoft
Word. It can be painfully slow, but in the office it’s my fourth best friend.
(Looking at me sucking up to my boss and co-workers.)
You see, I’m a copywriter and somehow the graphic designers
around me found a reason to carve a space out for me.
What’s it like?
Liberating
I wake up every workday knowing that I get to dress the way
my mind thinks and my co-workers design.
What’s it like?
Stimulating
I get to live by the 4 C’s: Collaborate. Create. And receive
and offer Constructive Criticism.
Yes.
We manage to live successfully by them. Relatively drama
free.
How?
• You have to have
a clear and open mind and open space that allows for open dialogue.
• You have to have
a trustworthy relationship with your peers, co-workers, leaders; whomever you
are interacting with during your creative collaborative and constructive
criticism sessions.
• You need to learn
to listen attentively and respectively.
• And learn to talk
tactfully; criticism and insults are not synonymous.
• You need to learn
to differentiate that just because a project is a “No” doesn’t equate that
you’re a “No.”
• And learn to take
a compliment.
• And give
compliments every once in awhile. For every criticism, find a compliment or
word of wise encouragement. That’s what makes it constructive. The compliment
may be futurist: “When you do “this,” because I know YOU are capable of it. It
will rock the mismatching socks of the audience and ca-ca poo-poo is going to hit
the fan. It’s going to be awesome.” Even that kind of praise is welcome. Wacky.
Deserved. Memorable.
I don’t have to be a mother to appreciate a well-behaved
child. I don’t have to be a painter to take notice of an Albrecht Dürer piece
of work. I don’t have to be a firefighter to sound the alarm of a burning
building. I don’t have to be a baker to know when my taste buds are getting a
dose of delicious pastry. And I don’t have to be a graphic designer to sit
amongst them and their dexterity at visual branding.
I have no history in the industry I’m working in; at the
tribicle of desks I’m sitting. But I have a future here. I will not design, but
I will definitely be coming back because my Microsoft Documents and their
InDesign Software tend to coexist quite well.
