Almost three weeks ago, I called the head of marketing for a big personal care appliance company to tell her about the FOF Beauty Bash in October. I thought she might like to introduce her company’s newest beauty tools to the FOFs coming to the event, maybe even make a presentation about them. Great opportunity for a company that sells products like hair dryers and straightening irons.
I told her assistant I was sending her boss a document about the event and she assured me she’d give it to her.
Week 1. No response, so I leave a couple of messages on the boss’s, as well as the assistant’s, VM.
Week 2. Still no response, so I leave a few more messages on their VMs.
Today, in the middle of Week 3, I call again. Lo and behold, the assistant answers and I go through the rigamarole of reminding her who I am, why I’m calling and did she give my email to her boss?
There was a pregnant pause, even though I had left her about three voice mails in the last two weeks and sent two mails—all with no response.
“No, she’s been traveling and has been in and out of the office,” assistant reports.
“I’m sure she reads emails when she’s away from the office. Why didn’t you forward it to her?” I asked.
“She’s busy,” assistant responds.
“We’re all busy,” I answer back. “Is it your job to decide what should be put in front of her and when? What if she’s missing a good opportunity for your company? I’m sure she expects responses when she presents opportunities to others. I wrote to you weeks ago and left numerous messages since then, with no response.”
“I will give it to her when she comes in this week,” assistant answers.
“Thank you,” I say, gritting my teeth. I am 64 and no longer interested in winning popularity contests with assistants like this. I learned long ago that they are barriers to making progress and it is a waste of time to humor them.
I love when people present opportunities to me for FOF. Opportunities are what makes the world go round. Uninterested, unmotivated, unresponsive assistants are no assistance whatsoever. They are exasperating and worthless and should turn their jobs over to someone who really appreciates having a job and wants to do it well.
0 Responses to “Can you assist me?”
Lisa says:
Well, they may not want us but they will regret that attitude, sooner or later:).
Susan says:
What Toby & Cecile said.
Yikes.
Cecile says:
Hello my dear FOF friends,
Oh Geri, Tobi is SOOOO right!!! Nothing says “I want ina” as someone else got in. These pseudo assistants are as you put it “barriers” to progress… it is a shame their boses are not literally “on top” of these things, orerhaps the Head of Marketing is the culprit… Regardless, it is their loss, and I agree with Tobi. The competition will mpst likely be thrilled to show at the Beauty Bash.
Cécile
Geri says:
Hi Cecile,
The Head of Marketing could very well be the culprit. I am entertaining sending this blog to the assistant.
Geri
Toby Wollin says:
OK, Geri – let’s say this about that: She’s just not into us. Obviously, this woman does not see women over 50 as a market she’s interested in – shoot, I’m fairly sure that this woman does not see women over 40 as a market she’s interested in. The important question is this: Is this woman’s company’s COMPETITION interested in women over 40? And even just as important – who else do you have who is already committed for the Beauty Bash that is in a sister field (say for example – Clairol or Garnier or Aveda) who perhaps has some leverage/partnership with competing personal care appliance people. Because nothing says “I want in” like getting the competition in, having a great show and then sending this silly woman (and she’s silly because she’s obviously missing some vital information here) photographs, attendance stats, and so on on the show.
Geri says:
all great points toby.