I have big plans to write a book at some point in my life.  For the past few years, I’ve been thinking about one idea in particular but have yet to put pen to paper (is that phrase still relevant??).  So, I figured I would use this entry as a chance to hopefully build some momentum towards making this dream a reality and possibly even solicit some feedback from all you nuts out there.

So here we go…the working title of said someday book is “I Never Thought I’d…” When completed, it will be comprised of a collection of experiences from working people in a wide array of fields/industries that evoked that exact thought – “I never thoughts I’d ___” or the ever-popular “Did I seriously go to school to ___?” often followed by “I can’t believe I spent $__ on college to do this.” I’m guessing that we’ve all had these moments – I know I’ve had more than my fair share. 

For example, as a public relations professional, I never thought I’d have to argue with a major airline to allow me to purchase a seat on the aircraft for a dog.  Oh, but I did.  On multiple occasions.  And, when I selected marketing as a major in college, I don’t specifically remember picturing myself walking into the Aon Building wearing pajamas after an “Extreme Sleepover” media event for a retailer client.  But I rode the elevator with my slippers on and my head held high.  Ordering truck-fulls of sod pallets, asking passersby in Millennium Park which local weather anchor they think is the hottest, shaving someone’s beard on TV or dressing up as a grape??  None of my classes ever truly prepared me for what I’ve been asked to do in my career so far.  And I know this trend goes far beyond PR. 

A few other good ones that I’ve heard include escorting the “Bathroom Angels” on a multi-city media tour, babysitting boy band pop stars Hanson and teaching them the ropes of radio, spending 14 hours at the Oregon State Fair, cold-calling people to sell them on corporate entertainment  package at a golf event that more-than-likely wasn’t going to happen, taking a cab at 3 a.m. to hand-deliver a Power Point presentation to a boss, popping blisters at a medical tent following a marathon, going for an interview for an alleged advertising/promotions position and ending up walking the streets in a business suit hawking pizza coupons to the elderly, giving a group of bikers milk mustaches, unexpectedly being asked to wrangle cows, and the list goes on…

Clearly, the ideal audience to market the book to will be college students and recent graduates.  In fact, I think it would make a perfect graduation gift, so if you’d like to pre-order a copy for a special student in your life (preferably one that’s graduating in 2030), please just let me know – that would surely help motivate me to get this thing going!  Oh, and by all means – share your “I Never Thought I’d” stories with me – I know you’ve got ‘em.