Are we willing to do what's necessary?

Are we going to get the job done?  Or just be a scrub?

Do we ascend to new heights.  Or fall into plight?

How do we decide??

I feel strongly that it's inside.  It's a will that keep us alive.

That's how we survive.  But deciding, deep inside.

That you have the guts to tough it out.  To stand resolute.

In your pursuits; you have eternal and utter belief.  Transcending to will.

And that will.  Shall render you transcendental  in your rise to fulfill.

The goals, ever be them self instilled.

Funny incident...

The other day, I was e-mailing partners in New York.  Not, of course, the most pleasant place to do business.   People are quick and fast to the punch. So, of course I have to suspect some backlash when I go pecking into my business affairs there. I basically cold e-mail people, so you  just never know what you'll get. Part of the fun... I know.

So I'm checking through responses to my inquiries;  then I get to the biggest asshole response I've ever seen.  His response read:   " Have you ever considered mucking yourself? "That's what he wrote back to me.  A fury of rage overcame me.  How could his asshole insult me like that.  What a total effinnn" asshole!!!!!   I was stunned.  But how to retaliate?

Then I remembered who this dude was.  Several years earlier, I had e-mailed him; and he was rude then too.  He reply had said: " Don't spam me".  Just like that.  I KNOW: what a raging asshole.  Im being  factitious, in case you couldn't tell.

So I guess he had, in fact, given me due warning.  And I simply chose to ignore that.  So it looks like maybe I'm the asshole.  Right?!?!?!

Fuck no.  He was: the balls on this prick.  ( to quote Soprano lore) But still how to reply?

Here's what I came up with:  " I'd forgotten what a perfect gentleman you were. "  Very snappy, ehhh.
Fuck this prick anyway. Right?!?!?

I could go on and on about this escalating prick like tone.  But for now let's remember a couple things:

1) A dick head is always a dick head.

2) Boys never grow up.

3) People agitate each-other in business.

4) Let it go, boss.  Your dignity is more important.

On cold calling...

To those of you who have never cold called someone, beware: it is one of the hardest, scariest things you can do.  Before e-mail came along, this was also the only way to make connections in the headhunting world.  Needless to say, the learning curve is sharp; and once you get the hang of it, it becomes a habit, much like breathing or eating.

Once you become good enough to deviate from the script is when things get really, really interesting.

But man, those first few months, wow. What a roller coaster of emotion!!  It's like Forrest Gump said: Life is indeed a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.   I mean, you could, on sequential calls, get the the biggest asshole in the world; followed by the biggest sweetheart in the city.  CRAZY!!!

But I must admit that there is a certain adrenaline rush to be gained from placing cold calls.  In a way, it's sort of addictive even.  Is there really anything better than virtual uncertainty behind every door?  It's like the Dating Game.  And now, cold e -mailing has taken the game to a heightened level.

Nobody is off limits anymore.  Chair of the firm, huh??? Fuck it... I'll try to recruit you out of the firm.  Give me your fucking attitude.  Serve that shit up to me on a silver platter.  Just remember that once it's in writing it never goes away.  I'm actually in the process of compiling my most shameful list of e-mail replies.  Are you daft enough to wind up in my hall of shame? We shall see.

In it's strangely appealing way, I have been seduced by this thing called the headhunting game.  I'm a man with a wildly addictive personality.  Large swings in mood and fortunes appeal to me.

I feel lucky to who stumbled upon such a uniquely satisfying career.

You said what?!?

I'll never forget this story as long as I live.  It was my second week on the headhunting gig; a complete novice in the world of business.  The whole deal was that we essentially had a blueprint of what to say when you solicited a prospective client.  This is so and so, and I was just calling to see how things were going, and would like to find out if you might be open to exploring your options at this point.

So I'm in recruiting in DC, where egos a large and attentions span short.  For a novice headhunter, that spells trouble.  I dial in to this very large, prestigious firm there and ask for man x.  Man x answers simply by saying his last name, a very cocky, dick head like move.  I launch into my premeditated routine, but he cuts me off right in the middle... " Do you have any idea who I am? "  Surprised and stuttering, I try to read his name from my list, but he interjects.

" I'll have you know that I am the managing partner of this firm, and that carries tremendous clout and power. "

At that point, something visceral overtook me and I said,  " You are a FUCKING asshole! "  And then, just as quickly, I hung up.  As I gathered myself, a mixture of fear, anxiety, and delight overtook.

What had I just done?  Had I just ruined my firm's reputation? My emotional reaction was not good... this I knew. Yet, part of me felt so satisfied.  I know... that's fucked up right?

I made my way to my boss's office; standing at the door in a state of flummoxed confusion.

" Umm.... I think I just fucked up. " My boss looked up from her work, rolling her eyes.  " What did you do? "  " Well... I just told this partner dude in DC to go fuck himself.  "

" You did what?!?  You CAN'T do that..."  At that moment the phone rang.  Guess who?  Yep... the asshole.  HAHAHA

Seated now, I listened to the call develop.  This is what I heard from my boss:

"  Yes, yes this is the CEO of the headhunting outfit ."  Shaking head....
" Yes... that is my employee."  shaking head...
"Uhuh, uhuh, I understand... you are the managing partner of your firm in DC...

Her eyes now rolling, clearly annoyed.   "He called you a what?!?.... really?!?  Uhuhhh... uhuhh....
Well, if the shoe fits!"

And she hung up, motioning me back to my office.

the headhunting stigma...

Recruiting became fantastically popular during the internet boom of 1998-2000.  Everybody, it seemed could, would, and did become a recruiter.  The perception, and rightfully so, was based on the notion that any schmuck, regardless of talent, could simply pick up the phone, make a few calls, and presto; a big fat check awaited you.

While this notion was somewhat untrue, it was rooted in truth.  And not surprisingly, that truth gave rise to some nasty, and very true perceptions.

We are lazy. We skim off the work of the hard working, people who slave away their lives, 12 hours a day.  And then we come in and a few calls later, we've made our keep for the next quarter.  And not a paltry one at that.  It might take us a few hours, but goddammit, we come off looking good, paid, and soot free.  No dirty work for us.  I mean, how hard could it really be?  Identify a hiring party(which in those days was like finding a leaf on the ground of a fall day).  Ask them what they're looking for, then go find it.

Any douche bag with half  a brain can do that...  and then you're going to pay me 25% of the starting salary!!!  Fuckin' ehhh right you are.  I deserve it, after all... I made what?  50 calls to find you the right guy.  Pay me my fucking money; and be quick about it!!

While this might be a bit exaggerated, the notion that headhunters are interchangeable moles became the perception of the work force at large.  My clients, lawyers,  have quite a bit of fun behind my back, I'm sure.  " Hey, did you get that e-mail from that goof??? "  " Yeh... I got it, he probably e-mailed the whole fucking firm.  " HAHAHAHA.

Well guess what asshole, I did.  And not only that, I will do it every quarter, on the quarter.

So...  are we worthy of our stigma?

Perhaps not.  Then again... perception is reality.