Asleep at the wheel

It was August 2003, and one of our PR agency's competitors had just won a small Japanese client. We hadn't even known that this Japanese company was looking for an agency, and we were feeling low about missing out on the pitch.

"Well," Rannie said, "Someone here is obviously ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL."

She was looking at me.

"You didn't know they were looking for an agency either, Rannie!"

"Yeah, but I'm not in charge of sales. It's not in my job description."

(Rannie's ever-shifting "job description" was a constant source of comedy in our office, as we didn't HAVE job descriptions, since there were only FIVE people in the whole agency.)

...

It was with enormous satisfaction that I pulled in five clients in the next few months. It was like landing fish, after fish, after fish.

Then, at a meeting in December 2003...

"I don't think I can take on any more clients. I'm completely overloaded," Rannie complained.

"Still think I'm asleep at the wheel!? HAHAHAHA! SWEET REVENGE!" I hollered with gusto.

...

I've been thinking about that interaction lately, and how Rannie knew exactly how to spur me on. So much of the company's success can be attributed to her.