On Deuschbags: The first of many.

The workplace has taught me many things, the one I'd like to discuss with you is The Art Of Dueschbagism. I have a never-ending opinion on the subject so it'll take a number of posts to get it all out really. Today I just want to share the challenge that deuschbags present and how I've dealt with it, today. Just today because I'm afraid this phenomenon extracts all sorts of volatility from me on better days.

Imagine it: You're in a room full of experienced creative people and well, more experienced creative people. You... are less experienced. You are therefore NERVOUS AS F. You fiddle with your pen and make shady doodles in your moleskin to avoid eye contact or complete transparency. (if you allow transparency they'll all see how nervous and contemplate you really are...we can't have that. Deuschbags thrive off little nervous creatives like you.) You stall for as long as possible but you know you'll have to speak eventually. Finally there's no more avoiding you can do and your big booming boss is staring at you wondering why you haven't begun speaking. You clear your throat and while you're doing that, he mentions that your idea had better be the thing that'll change his mood, after all he is in a very bad mood. The nervousness goes through the roof at this point. Ok, ok... the show must go on so being the professional that you are you deliver the idea. At this point you've spent all of yourself and he had better love it or you'll flatline.

There is a pregnant pause, and then he says "Its a little crap.". Now, if it's true that you're only as good as your last work, then your entire career has just been reduced to "crap". Not even a lot of "crap" but "a little crap". So here's what I wanted to say. You can either evaporate into tears or have a defensive outburst that will only embarrass you further, or you can react like an (and I hate to use this word) adult. Ask "Why? Why is it a little bit crap?" Then, watch and learn. The great thing about deuschbags is that they are often very talented, so listen to every single word, watch every single gesture and absorb it all. You're an awesome person so your conscience will be able to filter the really deuschbaggy things but the rest will probably be of value. If you take yourself away and treat it as criticism of the idea and not you, chances are you'll either see he's point, or be able to rationally defend your work. Truth is you can either spend the rest of this meeting hating him/her and yourself or you can have learnt something.

Today I managed to resolve it this way, tomorrow, I might hurl a sharp object at him/her. I'm just trying to keep sane.

#Pow