A segue from last week’s Pivot post:
When corporate sweeps in and takes over the individually owned, bootstrapped and personally branded company, all the dynamism in the office shifts. Office politics are introduced. The established camaraderie, the last-minute office happy hours, and the provocative holiday parties are now interrupted by the HR machine. Ironically, watching sexual harassment videos and other procedural items is outsourced to the assistants. The staff aren’t the ones ‘…bringing in the fucking money. I don’t have time for this!’ Before, the deals were done under the aura and vulgarity of a frat house; now everyone is an independent contractor with new titles and a different hierarchy, watching their backs. The rest of the staff edit their casual conversation topics and spend less time lingering at the coffee bar. The environment becomes stale. All the money is still being made, funneled into the machine.
The shared environment downshifts when a sudden turn of events or tragedy occurs in the family or amongst a tight group of friends. Someone has been wounded; diagnosed with a life-threatening condition; or going through a tumultuous divorce. There are still pockets of liveliness and joviality, or even the concerted effort to keep the spirits up. A new solemnity sets in every time the topic is broached or the person enters the room. This somber undercurrent constantly wants to pull down the mood. There was life before this news and life afterward -a distinct demarcation.
***
When very close friends, after many years, happen to sleep with one another, all the dynamics of the relationship change. A new bond is formed and how they relate to one another has leveled up. The connection flows differently, either with a tinge of awkwardness or with a sparkle of new intimacy. This new tension can break them apart or bring much joy. Can both components be kept, or has one sacrificed the other? It gets complicated -so it’s said. Preserve the original companionableness.
***
Once under the spotlight and fawned over; consistently booked for photo shoots and interviews; sent presskits and free goodies of prestigious goods and name-brand clothes. Then one thing is said out of context and your small world blows up. The texts, calls, and emails stop. The invites die as the schedule frees up. Reality becomes somber. Everyone’s loyalty is questioned. More radical behavior is expressed as you’re simply trying to stay relevant and mentioned in any way. To be known once more; to be remembered; to never be forgotten.
A dollop of optimism:
On identity: “Some people have a lot farther to go from where they begin to get where they want to be—a long way up the mountain, and that is how it has been for me. I don’t feel I am getting older; I feel I am getting closer.” — D.H. Lawrence
On transforming your life: "I’ve never seen any life transformation that didn’t begin with the person in question finally getting tired of their own bullshit.” — Elizabeth Gilbert
*Portions of this were originally posted on my old blog in 2019
** Folds of paper artwork by Joao Charrua
This piece reminds me of what it was like working for a broker at Bear Stearns and the industry in general. From 1988 to 1996 or so every day was different from the last. But it wasn't long after Ace Greenberg was underhandedly taken down from the helm by Jimmy Cayne that the culture changed for the worst.
The corporate intimacy of "knowing" the Chairman of the Board was lost by all. And it was noticable within a couple of years. In another ten the company was gone. No oversight of the fast and loose greed by the mortgage trading desks in NY for that extended period led to a hellacious demise.
Ace Greenberg was quite a piece of work. And his book Memos From The Chairman stands as one of the best examples of a man that was encouraging during the earlier rough times and exemplified the running of a business with honor.