Thursday, March 12, 2009

How Old Are We?

So, this week I was down in our nation's capitol hanging out with CBL and our VP of Marketing. It was a VERY entertaining week.

Aside from the fact that the Veep Marketing and I had some ... ahem ... nice chats that said lots without exactly saying anything, I would have to say the highlight of the trip was when CBL threw a temper tantrum at dinner.

Yep, a temper tantrum. Complete with pounding fists on table and a teary storm off to the ladies'.

I'm sorry, did you say you were forty-seven? And a Vice President?

The tantrum came about because I had reported in on a meeting I'd had wherein someone in Europe had opted out of a program we're running. Not because the program sucks or because they don't like us but because they don't have the bandwidth or budget and it doesn't fit into their strategy. Pretty straightforward, right?

Apparently not.

CBL decided it was a personal attack on her and everything she tries to do. "You just don't understand! I'm so tired of doing everything for the global team and not having anyone appreciate it! I'm so tired of being picked on. You just don't understand!"

Of course, I'm paraphrasing. The tantrum itself went on for about 15 minutes. And then during the taxi back to the hotel. The elevator ride to our respective rooms. And well past breakfast the next morning.

(And don't get me started about how I had to calm her down because "she was so late and had no time to eat and she was just going to get a Chai because she didn't have time to eat and she had to arrange a cab and it really sucks that people expect her to do so much because then she winds up running herself ragged and she's exhausted and starving and she doesn't have time to eat..." You get the point.)

Because I'm in a good place, loving my yoga and feeling centered and grounded, I can laugh at all this. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I know in less than one month, our illustrious President will be in Boston and has specifically requested one-on-one meetings with the entire Americas team. To, ahem, find out how things are going.

Oh, the things i could share....