When I logged in this morning at work the operating system kindly informed me that my password was to expire in six days, and asked if I wanted to change it. This is the third time it’s done this to me, which means I’ve been at the new gig for nearly four months, so it must be about time for a quick update on what happened when I left the void.
As my profile said until a few minutes ago, I was supposed to be taking up the post of ‘Business Development Manager’ at F1000, the premier site for post-publication peer review (cough). Which was all well and good: I thought I’d be doing the web 2/social media schtick; a bit of writing, that sort of thing.
First day in, chairman takes me into his office and says ‘about your job title…’.
A little while later, I’m in a daze. I’m not merely a BDM with responsibility for a tiny part of the F1000 behemoth. No, I am the information architect (which sounds better than ‘web master’—hey, we even have our own journal, HT Georg). What’s more, F1000 is mine. I mean, mine: cackling, stroking white cats and feeding useless henchmen to sharks mine. (I have to report to the chairman, but it’s still pretty good going for a guy who still has Gilson’s Thumb.)
It was as if I’d gone for a swim in a rock pool and suddenly had the whole Pacific dumped on me. Scary and exciting and breathless all at once.
Four months down the line it’s still like that. I seem to be doing about four jobs: including PR and BDM and social media maven1 and negotiator to the UN. I keep getting asked to lunch with various luminaries at very short notice. I had the final say-so on the new logo (to the extent of getting the vector files from the real designer and tweaking myself) and interviewed PR manager candidates. I’ve put the new website in front of some very important people and had to decide what will and won’t make it to launch. I’ve got a corporate credit card, I’ve hired two freelancers and have invoice-signing authority. I’ve set up, and provide all the content for, a Facebook page, a Linkedin group, a twitter feed and a blog—all without turning into Bora. I’ve edited and written press releases, been very firm with some people and soothing towards others (sometimes the sets overlap) and still haven’t finished re-writing the ‘About’ pages.
It’s great.
that sounds like you are enjoying yourself! That is good news. I wish you the best of the future and that the Pacific isn’t too large and cold ;)
I was grinning before vacation when I saw that one of my papers was a “must read” at F1000 (bragging but it was a very fun feeling). It is also very helpful to find somethings that other people find interesting to read.
Splendid job in other words!
…and of course, the first sentence was written with a Swedish thought in mind. Not the “not so nice connotation in English”. I am sorry for any mis-interpretations.
No misinterpretation, I guess the thought made it through translation!
And hey, well done! That’s more than I ever managed!
Well done, Richard!! Keep it up!
Just so long as you are a benevolent despot.
Well, I haven’t actually had anyone executed. I guess ‘benevolence’ is a broad church.
I keep getting asked to lunch with various luminaries at very short notice
Let’s do lunch. Tomorrow. or even today.
Actually, tomorrow. Today I have a Very Important Meeting.
I can make 13.15 tomorrow. Have to interview a candidate.
13.15 tomorrow, Betjeman Arms. Please send picture of cormorant.
You have mail.
Err, do you guys want a room? Oh, I see you’ve got one…..
That reminds me. A certain Torontian NNer will be arriving just there on 20th August and I’ve promised her lunch. Email me if you’re in town…
I got mail.
Oh yes, the peripatetic Eva I presume? She’s in the middle of
GrantlandAustralia at the moment, unless I’ve lost track again.I suspect, from the number and variety of things that you’re doing, that F1000 actually only has one employee. Am I right? Do I win a reprieve from having to review an article?
Hey, wait a second… is she going to Jenny’s do as well? How cool would that be?
Yes, no, no, yes and very. In that order.
RIchard: ahh… blushing thanks! I was very flattered. and happy. Did I mention happy? (It’s funny but it always makes me happy that someone else reads the articles :) )
I’d go in a heart beat if I was in UK. Now, I am with you in spirit, although not in flesh.
I even blogged you :) You’re that special.
aww… thanks. Very kind of you.
and one day I will try and keep a nonymous blog. Promise. Just need to work on a bit more on that “googability” ;)
Easy peasy
You do know that is not me, right? That is a famous song writer in Sweden. We just share the same name ;) Oh, and she has a blogg already… guess my blogg will not be “Åsa Karlström’s blog”
It’s not?! Say it ain’t so! You’re shattering my dreams :(
I do so like that Swedish for “blog” is “blogg”. Excellent.
R Grant: sorry. It’s not the most uncommon name in Sweden. although Åsa is very low among younger ones now, it was popular in 70ies though ;)
R Wintle: That would be the Swedish thing. Double gg since it “sounds like that when you pronounce it”
What has pronunciation to do with spelling?
Just ask the French, (Le Wintle).
never glog and blogg!
I see you did not turn into me, good man!
Perhaps Henry is Swedish !!!!
Too much glog and soon you will be speaking in palindromes
Ni talar bra latin
hej da
I’ve seen that museum!
Fortunately i’ve never seen that orange shirt. My eyes.
Hm. I think I’ve been to the RNLI station in Brighton, but it was a long time ago and evidence is lacking.
Cromer, not so much, unfortunately. Should be easy to find though if Henry’s wearing that shirt – just wait until after nightfall and follow the glow.
Pamela> would you believe if I said that it’s spelled with two gs? ‘Glögg’ :)
Love the palindrome! [naturrutan is an old fave of mine. a TV show as well as palindrome]