A few weeks ago I wrote about what sometimes happens in social situations when I discuss what I do and half jokingly mentioned how saying I wrote about the office technology and imaging industry was a conversation killer. That was an exaggeration although it’s extremely rare when someone says to me, “Tell me more. Tell me more.”
That column elicited the following comment from Andrew Ritschel of Electronic Office Systems: “If you can’t take pride in what you do, then it’s over. Good article and comments. I just can’t believe that the common person isn’t more fascinated.”
A couple of weekends ago I went to my high school reunion. It sounded like a great idea when it was first announced well over a year ago, but the closer the date came, the idea of mixing and mingling with former classmates, many of whom I hadn’t seen in decades, didn’t seem all that appealing anymore. Just connecting with some of them on Facebook was enough to keep me in the loop. Then I went and had a terrific time and like so many others who were there, can’t wait to go again in another five or ten years.
Of course the questions “What are you doing and what do you write about?” came up a few times throughout the evening. I took a page from Andrew’s book, and proudly told everyone what I do, how long I’ve been doing it, and how I’m one of the last true journalists still writing about this industry.
I didn’t get that many probing questions after sharing that, but it didn’t kill any conversations either. I even caught up with a former classmate who used to sell for Xerox. Talk about less than six degrees of separation. You can run, but you can’t hide. Anyway, he eventually left Xerox and is now co-owner of an auto body shop. Apparently, he’d had enough of the corporate world.
I don’t have any major revelations to share outside of that, but a good time was had by all, and I think I’ll go again and very likely still be telling people that I’m doing the same thing I’m doing now and enjoying every minute of it.
Thanks for reading.
