I once was referred to an assistant communications manager for an international corporation headquartered here in Pittsburgh. It would be inappropriate to name the firm. (Okay, it rhymes with, uh, “shlayer”).

At the appointed hour I showed up, my samples tucked safely in the soft attache case I usually carried to presentations. My potential client sat  behind an elegant desk, her attitude cool and professional. She was in her late twenties, a few years younger than me at the time.

A lot has been written about how one sizes up another in the first moments after meeting. That was certainly the case here. She was all business and not prone to chit chat. There was no getting off the subject here, no nascent camaraderie that would bloom into an easy professional partnership.

I proceeded to spend a few minutes telling her about my practice and experience. It was then time to show examples of our work. While maintaining my banter I reached down to remove my samples from the soft briefcase at my side. They resisted, however, and as I continued to speak I found myself tugging at them with ever increasing but unresponsive pressure. Unbeknownst to me, my combined works had lodged itself in my bag in such a way as to form a tightly wound and powerful spring. With eyes still alertly focused on my client but my attention divided, I gave one final forceful tug. My samples exploded from the briefcase, shooting out across the floor, under her desk, and about her tasteful pumps.

She did not laugh. She did not move. She said nothing. Her unexpressed sympathy astonished me, and I pondered this as I retrieved the various (and, by the way, beautifully designed) materials scattered about the floor.

The rest of the interview proceeded without event. I left, never heard from her again, and that was that.

From this experience I learned two lessons and I freely pass them on to any taker:

1. As my father told me when first showing me how to use a 35mm camera, if something resists, don’t force it.

2. Don’t work for jerks.

Rick Landesberg
Landesberg Design
www.landesbergdesign.com

Rick Landesberg, Landesberg Design

www.landesbergdesign.com