Recently, Mike told me about a 24 year old, Boston lawyer who declined a job offer with a Boston firm in a less than professional manner. This sounded like a great, real world example to show to my class. The emails were a resounding success and besides just being funny and shocking they did provide some good examples of Business Communication principles. Anyway, I thought I would share them with all of you.
This is the beginning of the emails:
At this time, I am writing to inform you that I will not be accepting your offer.
After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the pay you are offering would neither fulfill me nor support the lifestyle I am living in light of the work I would be doing for you. I have decided instead to work for myself, and reap 100% of the benefits that I sow.
Thank you for the interviews.
Dianna L. Abdala, Esq.
——-Original Message——-
Monday, February 06, 2006 12:15 PM
Subject: RE: Thank you
—
Given that you had two interviews, were offered and accepted the job (indeed, you had a definite start date), I am surprised that you chose an e-mail and a 9:30 PM voicemail message to convey this information to me. It smacks of immaturity and is quite unprofessional. Indeed, I did rely upon your acceptance by ordering stationary and business cards with your name, reformatting a computer and setting up both internal and external e-mails for you here at the office. While I do not quarrel with your reasoning, I am extremely disappointed in the way this played out. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
——-Original Message——-
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:01 PM
Subject: Re: Thank you
A real lawyer would have put the contract into writing and not exercised any such reliance until he did so.
Again, thank you.
——-Original Message——-
From:
To:
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:18 PM
Subject: RE: Thank you
Thank you for the refresher course on contracts. This is not a bar exam question. You need to realize that this is a very small legal community, especially the criminal defense bar. Do you really want to start pissing off more experienced lawyers at this early stage of your career?
——-Original Message——-
From:
To:
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:28 PM
Subject: Re: Thank you
bla bla bla
Friday, February 24, 2006
Yoga
As annoying as our cat can be, she is occasionally entertaining. This morning I did yoga in the office here at home with my favorite new software program, Yourself Fitness. This program is essentially an interactive workout video featuring your own computerized, personal trainer named Maya. We love Maya. Anyway, While I was yoga-ing I was wearing a little warm-up top with a draw-string hoodie. Usually when I do downward dog I have my eyes closed and as I was about to move into plank I looked down and saw a little furry claw a half-inch from my face and another batting at my defenseless drawstring. She looked so cute reclined on her back, focussed on those oh so wily drawstrings. I stayed in the pose as long as I could just to watch her.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Our President's Day Weekend
This weekend has been both relaxing and busy and now, unfortunately, almost over. We don't get a lot of random day's off like President's day or Columbus day in the private sector. So when we do it is very exciting to me. So I thought I would tell all you about the high lights. Saturday I reunited with my old hairstylist, Mark. He always did a fantastic job but when I bought the house I felt like his trendy, chic salon, Wet, was too spendy for a new homeowner. Also, I was getting tired of the same old bob. So I found a new girl who was $15 cheaper and gave a fabulous head massage. However, after two high maintenance haircuts and a surprise raise in rates that made her just as expensive as Mark, I decided to sheepishly go back to him. I did insist on NO bobs this time around and I now have a nice layer cut.
After the haircut, I spent the entire afternoon grading papers at the Green Muse. Luckily, the weather was drizzly and cold all weekend so being stuck inside wasn't as bad as it could have been. After paper grading we met some friends at the Alamo Drafthouse for the Sinus, Flashdance show. Sinus Theatre is an improv comedy troupe that tells jokes over old, usually bad movies, a la Mystery Science Theatre 3000. This was my first time seeing Flashdance and boy am I glad I had waited this long. What a stinker. Thankfully, the jokes were hilarious and a couple of our friends dressed up in oversized sweatshirts, headbands, leg warmers, and feathered hair. The funniest thing about the the movie was the ridiculous dancing. Apparently Jennifer Beals could not dance and in the final big number three different people are her dance double: a professional dancer, an acrobat, and a 16 year old, Spanish boy named Crazy Legs who break dances.
Sunday we decided to try what one of our friends calls the best eating experience in Austin; The Sunday brunch at San de Fon Miguel. Our friend was not exaggerating the meal was the most amazing buffet you could imagine. The chicken moles and salads were bursting with flavor but they had nothing on the corn souflle. Every mouthful was like a rumba on my tongue- mmmm mmm yum! The other benefit to the meal was that Mike and I didn't have to eat for the rest of the day it was that filling.
The best day of the weekend was Sunday, it was like my dream day. We started it out with that great meal, went home and cuddled up all afternoon reading while it rained outside, and then went to a friend's for dinner that night. All my favorite things: good food, books, and friends. Ahh so nice. Monday, on the other hand not such a dream day but I got of class work done.
Hope you all had nice weekends.
After the haircut, I spent the entire afternoon grading papers at the Green Muse. Luckily, the weather was drizzly and cold all weekend so being stuck inside wasn't as bad as it could have been. After paper grading we met some friends at the Alamo Drafthouse for the Sinus, Flashdance show. Sinus Theatre is an improv comedy troupe that tells jokes over old, usually bad movies, a la Mystery Science Theatre 3000. This was my first time seeing Flashdance and boy am I glad I had waited this long. What a stinker. Thankfully, the jokes were hilarious and a couple of our friends dressed up in oversized sweatshirts, headbands, leg warmers, and feathered hair. The funniest thing about the the movie was the ridiculous dancing. Apparently Jennifer Beals could not dance and in the final big number three different people are her dance double: a professional dancer, an acrobat, and a 16 year old, Spanish boy named Crazy Legs who break dances.
Sunday we decided to try what one of our friends calls the best eating experience in Austin; The Sunday brunch at San de Fon Miguel. Our friend was not exaggerating the meal was the most amazing buffet you could imagine. The chicken moles and salads were bursting with flavor but they had nothing on the corn souflle. Every mouthful was like a rumba on my tongue- mmmm mmm yum! The other benefit to the meal was that Mike and I didn't have to eat for the rest of the day it was that filling.
The best day of the weekend was Sunday, it was like my dream day. We started it out with that great meal, went home and cuddled up all afternoon reading while it rained outside, and then went to a friend's for dinner that night. All my favorite things: good food, books, and friends. Ahh so nice. Monday, on the other hand not such a dream day but I got of class work done.
Hope you all had nice weekends.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Book Club and other reads
This past Monday I had a book club meeting at my friend's adorable, remodeled south Austin home where we discussed Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down. This books gets the rare distinction of being one every member of the club actually enjoyed. Finding a book everyone will enjoy and is cheap and available is a real exercise in diplomacy. Anyway, A Long WAy Down is also the funniest book I have ever read about suicide. The book is told from the point of view of four Londoners (1 American expatriate) that meet New Year's eve on top of a tower block where they plan to kill themselves. They find solace in their strange aquaintanceship and begin to work through the depression. Yes, I know it sounds like a real downer but it actually is really funny and extremely entertaining. A lot like salad with ranch dressing- kind of good for you but also very tasty.
Today,I finished an audio book called Killer Angels, a historical novel about the battle of Gettysburg . This sounds like a real downer because in fact it is. There were a couple of time where I was near tears. However, there were only a handful of gorey battle scenes, which made it more interesting to me- it really was about the human reaction to war. Now, that I have finished Killer Angels I am starting, Guns, Germs, and Steel on tape. Right now, I am one tape into it but I have already learned there once were giant kangaroos and one ton lizards on Australia. What I wouldn't give to see a giant kangaroo:).
Our next book club book is 8:55 to Baghdad- a journalist's memoir about retracing the route Agatha Christie took on the Orient Express. Sounds very interesting but it is hard to find and sadly not at our library.
Today,I finished an audio book called Killer Angels, a historical novel about the battle of Gettysburg . This sounds like a real downer because in fact it is. There were a couple of time where I was near tears. However, there were only a handful of gorey battle scenes, which made it more interesting to me- it really was about the human reaction to war. Now, that I have finished Killer Angels I am starting, Guns, Germs, and Steel on tape. Right now, I am one tape into it but I have already learned there once were giant kangaroos and one ton lizards on Australia. What I wouldn't give to see a giant kangaroo:).
Our next book club book is 8:55 to Baghdad- a journalist's memoir about retracing the route Agatha Christie took on the Orient Express. Sounds very interesting but it is hard to find and sadly not at our library.
Monday, February 13, 2006
House Crisis: A Time Line
Warning:Contains a lot of references to bathroom functions and toilet water.
Saturday Morning
8:15 AM: I wake up from a deep sleep and rush to the bathroom. Notice a piece of paper on the toilet lid, wonder why it is there, brush it off in a hurry and pee.
8:20 AM: Jump back into bed very cold and ready for another hour of well deserved sleep.
8:21 AM: Mike asks me if I used the bathroom. I say, of course and cuddle up. He says didn't you see the sign. I say what sign- think of paper I tossed on the floor.
8:22 AM MIke informs me that at 2:00 AM I used the restroom (I still don't remember doing this) and when I returned he heard a gurgling noise, inspected the sound and noticed the toilet was overflowing. And rather than wake me, places a sign saying DO NOT USE on the toilet seat. (He was very smart not to wake me)
8:23 AM I rush out of bed go to the bathroom, notice water all over the floor, begin chanting Oh my God and am near tears.
8:27 AM Go back to the bedroom and ask MIke what we should do near hysterics while he is propted up in bed realizing he will not being getting back to sleep for a while. He then tells me he also noticed dirt in the shower stall last night.
8:28 AM Rush back to bathroom, see shower stall full of water. Am convinced a pipe burst while I was blissfully sleeping because we didn't let a faucet drip. Begin crying.
8:30 AM Mike steps in the door way of bathroom and comments it is gross I have my hand on the toilet seat and have touched my head in despair.
8:30.5 AM Yell at Mike and storm out of bathroom crying.
8:32 AM Cry and look for my realtor's number.
8:33 Call realtor luckily for her she is not home.
8:35 Cry
8:40 Root around in purse and find plumber's number.
8:41 Call plumber, get his answering machine.
8:42 Go outside notice water on the ground by the bathroom.
8:43 Fly into the house shouting that the pipe has burst.
8:45 Demand that Mike turn the water off to the house.
8:46 Mike turns off water with me close behind, weeping.
8:50 Now resigned that he will not be going back to sleep Mike apologizes for comment and turns on Battlestar Galatica DVD. He convinces me to watch through my tears.
9:00 Imagine plumber tearing up bathroom floor to fix burst pipe while Apollo shoots cylons.
9:30 Call plumber again, he answers and says "Oh that sounds bad" after I tell him about water shooting into the shower. No I never saw water actually "shoot" into the shower but I imagined it.
9:45 Plumber comes, MIke explains the gurgling sound.
9:50 Plumber snakes line. Water does not shoot out of the toilet.
10:05 I give plumber check for a shit load of money. Line is cleaned out from possible years of build up. We blame the former owner or a squirrel.
10:06 Plumber leaves. MIke calls me toilet head or TH for the next 3 days.
I hope that tax breakis worth it all.
Saturday Morning
8:15 AM: I wake up from a deep sleep and rush to the bathroom. Notice a piece of paper on the toilet lid, wonder why it is there, brush it off in a hurry and pee.
8:20 AM: Jump back into bed very cold and ready for another hour of well deserved sleep.
8:21 AM: Mike asks me if I used the bathroom. I say, of course and cuddle up. He says didn't you see the sign. I say what sign- think of paper I tossed on the floor.
8:22 AM MIke informs me that at 2:00 AM I used the restroom (I still don't remember doing this) and when I returned he heard a gurgling noise, inspected the sound and noticed the toilet was overflowing. And rather than wake me, places a sign saying DO NOT USE on the toilet seat. (He was very smart not to wake me)
8:23 AM I rush out of bed go to the bathroom, notice water all over the floor, begin chanting Oh my God and am near tears.
8:27 AM Go back to the bedroom and ask MIke what we should do near hysterics while he is propted up in bed realizing he will not being getting back to sleep for a while. He then tells me he also noticed dirt in the shower stall last night.
8:28 AM Rush back to bathroom, see shower stall full of water. Am convinced a pipe burst while I was blissfully sleeping because we didn't let a faucet drip. Begin crying.
8:30 AM Mike steps in the door way of bathroom and comments it is gross I have my hand on the toilet seat and have touched my head in despair.
8:30.5 AM Yell at Mike and storm out of bathroom crying.
8:32 AM Cry and look for my realtor's number.
8:33 Call realtor luckily for her she is not home.
8:35 Cry
8:40 Root around in purse and find plumber's number.
8:41 Call plumber, get his answering machine.
8:42 Go outside notice water on the ground by the bathroom.
8:43 Fly into the house shouting that the pipe has burst.
8:45 Demand that Mike turn the water off to the house.
8:46 Mike turns off water with me close behind, weeping.
8:50 Now resigned that he will not be going back to sleep Mike apologizes for comment and turns on Battlestar Galatica DVD. He convinces me to watch through my tears.
9:00 Imagine plumber tearing up bathroom floor to fix burst pipe while Apollo shoots cylons.
9:30 Call plumber again, he answers and says "Oh that sounds bad" after I tell him about water shooting into the shower. No I never saw water actually "shoot" into the shower but I imagined it.
9:45 Plumber comes, MIke explains the gurgling sound.
9:50 Plumber snakes line. Water does not shoot out of the toilet.
10:05 I give plumber check for a shit load of money. Line is cleaned out from possible years of build up. We blame the former owner or a squirrel.
10:06 Plumber leaves. MIke calls me toilet head or TH for the next 3 days.
I hope that tax breakis worth it all.
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