The Glory Days

Have you ever worked at a place that was so phenomenal, so special, at any point in your life?  A place where the people were perfect in their imperfection and amazing and inspiring?  And where you couldn't wait to get into work to see everyone every day?

I had that once.  For a long time really. 

In the best of times we had amazing off-sites, laughs in the office every day, sang songs, did dances when we got great hits for clients, supported each other when clients were tough and sometimes just downright rude, and just loved each other and what we were doing.

In the worst of times we eagerly accepted the fact there wouldn't be pay raises or promotions for a while, so that we could hold on to everyone that made the place special.  We created "new business" altars and ran through the office with a burning stick of sage - and it worked!  We always asked, once we were ready to leave, if anyone needed anything else, and we just loved each other and what we were doing.

In time, people moved on.  At first it started with moves to different offices, then some really critical people were let go - the once that were the backbone of the culture and spirit of the office.  A few layoffs more, and people started to leave on their own.  It became a place about numbers.  Client service suffered.  Growth and development suffered.  It became a shadow of  what it once was.

I guess I'm reflecting on this glorious time and the loss of it because the world may soon lose a woman that was so key to the spirit of the glory days.  Who helped me both professionally and personally, from getting promoted to nursing a broken heart.  And to not recognize her as part of something that was so unique and so special would be a travesty. 

I'd do just about anything to go back to that time for an hour.  And tell everyone there how awesome and special they are, and how much I love them.  And you know, if I did that, they wouldn't think it was strange.

I really want that feeling again.  I know it will never be the same, and that those same people won't be there for the ride, but I still want to believe it can be that way.  I don't want to say goodbye to it for good.  I don't want to say goodbye to a phenomenal woman that was such a big part of this.  But maybe in her own way, she's letting me know that this feeling is what I really want again.  To be a part of a dream team doing ER PR.  Working hard, laughing a lot, supporting each other, creating amazing opportunities all around us, and "sniffing the Play-Doh" won in an on-site off-site - because it helps us remember some of the best days that we ever had.

Comments

[Mary Ann]

Great post GG. You totally capture the essence of the place:)