Brainsprain.net

At a company meeting yesterday, the new VP of Marketing said that magic phrase that never fails to rile me up: “Everyone is in marketing.” This phrase somehow disables the tact and teamwork sections of my brain and makes me spit vitriol such as, “Really? If that’s the case, why do we need a marketing department? Seems to me you guys are just wasted expenditures if I’m doing your job AND mine…”

But I’ll refrain from that rant. I know he meant it as a compliment, as if I, too, were intelligent enough to be in marketing. I find it odd that the VP of Engineering at any company I’ve ever worked for never stood up in front of the company and told everyone, “We are all software developers. In everything you do, and in every conversation you have with friends or clients, be thinking about how we can make our code more efficient.”

Of course he didn’t. Because it’s stupid to say that. Don’t get me wrong, I think marketing is a crucial department to have at any company, and their function is vital to any organization’s well-being… But so is mine. Working together and using our disparate skill sets is what will make us successful, not you telling me that I can do my job and somehow find time for yours, as well. Telling me that I’m in Marketing tells me, really, that you have no idea what it is I do and how it affects your paycheck. Buy a clue.