Ms the Word: Work hard, have fun
A simple tip for pharma marketing managers
By on Mar 28, 2011
A couple of days ago, as I was getting out of the lift at a hotel in Zurich, I came face to face with a man I had not seen for 15 years.
The same intelligent eyes, half smile, and actually the same high forehead, common parlance for a receded hairline.
We laughed, shook hands, and both strolled down the corridor.
I told him he had not changed at all, though I was surprised he had not lost his hair ... which he took with good humor, responding that he was surprised I had not retired. Touche.
We had a deilghtful half hour, chewing over what we had done since last working together, then shook hands again and went our separate ways.
I gave him my email address; he repeated it twice, which might mean he will remember it, but perhaps not.
We had talked about Ian, a mutual friend and work colleague I have not thought about for a long time, who had retired a couple of years ago.
Ian had two passions in life: his TVR and Chelsea football club.
I am smiling again, a memory has come back.
Ian had an encyclopaedic kowledge of antibiotics and was driving the strategy in the international arena.
His skill was recognized by our subsidiary in Australia, which requested that he go down to help them deal with a government request to reduce the price of our leading product.
Quite a coup, except for one small problem-the visit would coincide with the FA Cup final, in which Chelsea was one of the protagonists.
When I told Ian about the request from Australia, he refused to go-point blank.
He asked me if I could persuade the chairman of the pharmaceuticals group to change the date.
I duly went up, had a short discusion, and was told this would be impossible.
"I resign," said Ian. His love of football, and of Chelsea, was so great that he preferred to lose his job rather than miss the game.
As I stood in his doorway, he began to compose the resignation letter, complaining hotly that this was a bridge too far.
Silently, the chairman appeared at my shoulder, arms folded: "Got you going there, Ian," he smiled.
"Bastard," came from the figure hunched over his desk. And they both laughed.
I think that was one of the hardest working teams I have been privileged to know.
The boss blended a very sharp mind with a great sense of humor.
He was prepared to defend his people to the end, but he also expected us to work hard.
Nothing was too difficult. We would attempt anything. No mountain high enough, no river deep enough.
We were the last to leave every party, but we were also the rainmakers who delivered sales and profits when the screen stars in Europe and North America failed.
Although we were the poor relatives, we would none of us leave the operation; it was just too exciting.
I have known the exhiliraton of a product success, I have tracked the weekly sales, and drunk the champagne at the first million, and drowned my sorrows at the failed pivotal study.
I have also worked at places where the driver was fear.
I know which I prefer, and I know which brought out the best in me.
I am pretty sure how you think, too.