23 Jun 98

By Paul Ford

Life Shift

My job changed again. I'm suddenly a member of another group, focusing on marketing strategy and other shenanigans. No more technical writing.

It's a compliment--the group I'm joining is three technical multimedia specialists who teach at universities in New York. They work at my company as "creative strategists." It's a think tank. I was asked to come into the group unexpectedly. There's a real amount to learn from each of them. I had nicknamed their group "the Manhattan Project."

It's a job I want, but expected to find in a few years or more, after resumes and interviews. It's lucky that it came sooner. I can save my striving, give more of myself away rather than spend the time career-building.

I could congratulate myself, but it wouldn't be honest. Rather than jump, it's just flow. My job becomes more strategic, more conceptual. No raise is involved. I'll be managing--but I've sort of been managing, here and there. I'll be writing, but I've been writing. I'll be strategizing, working creatively, but...etc. It's just that now it's official. Sort of.

So no quitting for now. Senior Writer and Researcher. Or Document Specialist. Or Asst. Vizier of Prose. Senior at 23 years old--a joke. As long as I keep discovering my own ignorance, I'll be okay. I don't stab backs and make sure that egos and politics are nurtured so that the important work is done. I have my faults and infant behaviors, but I know that the client's profits are my promotions. I want to see interesting work done, smoothly and efficiently. I want the people around me to be smart and busy and happy, even if I don't like them. It's business, abstract and complex and fascinating. It's a step closer to the answer "what am I doing here?"