Limba noastra-i o comoara, in adancuri infundata/ Our language is a tresure berried deep

E infundata de cineva, adica, de noi, de duiumul de ineptii de pe internet, de oamenii de comunicare cu prea mare dorinta de a se adapta "noilor tendinte din PR". Pe mormantul proaspat mai arunca din cand in cand cate un pumn de tarana neagra niste stimati academicieni care mai lanseaza cate o varianta de DOOM, sa ne invete pe noi, idiotii care ne straduim sa fim cat mai literati cu putinta, sa scriem analfabeticeste.

Tin postul asta in mine de la ultima editie a PR Week (care n-a fost asa cu multa vreme in urma, sa fie vreo luna). Il tin in mine din lipsa de timp, insa nu vreau sa uit sau sa o las treaba asta netaxata. E vorba despre o idee care mi-a facut parul maciuca la simpla enuntare. In cadrul elogiului adus epocii web 2.0 (sau x.0, cat mai e ea), s-a lansat ideea ca viitorul limbii romane este internetul...

Sincer, nu cred ca majoritatea celor din sala au fost la fel de ofuscati ca mine la ideea asta. Poate sunt de vina Facultatea de Litere, si Theodor Hristea, si doamna profesoara Dindelegan, care mi-au bagat in cap cu forta ideea ca trebuie sa vorbesc si sa scriu corect. Drept pentru care sunt unul dintre cei care scriu cu mare reticenta acum niciunul impreunat si pe care ii doare sufletul de doua ori cand scriu odata.

Refuz cu indarjire sa devin analfabeta. Fac alergie cand vad de asemenea scris impreunat, ma doare creierul cand citesc sânt scris asa, cu î din a! Dragilor, stimabililor, colegilor de breasla, va rog eu frumos, desfundati limba noastra din adancuri, ca se duce de rapa, si meseria noastra, odata cu ea (scris impreunat)!

***

It's being berried by someone, that is, by us, by the plethora of nonsense on the internet, by communication people with an over-eagerness to adapt to "new PR trends". On the fresh grave they occasionally throw a fistful of black dust by some esteemed academics who throw a DOOM version, to teach us, the idiots who strive to be as literate as possible, to write illiterately.

I've been holding this post in my head since the last PR Week (which wasn't that long ago, make that a month or so). I keep it in me due to lack of time, but I don't want to forget or leave it untaxed. It's about an idea that made my hair stand on end at the mere mention of it. As part of the eulogy to the web 2.0 (or x.0, whatever it is) era, the idea has been floated that the future of the Romanian language is the internet...

Honestly, I don't think most people in the room were as offended as I was at the idea. Maybe it's the Faculty of Letters, and Theodor Hristea, and Mrs. Dindelegan, who forcefully put into my head the idea that I must speak and write correctly. That's why I am one of those who write with great reluctance now, "niciunul" together, and whose soul hurts twice when I write "odata".

I stubbornly refuse to become illiterate. I get allergy when I see "de asemene" written together, my brain hurts when I read "sant" written like that, with î in a! My dear, esteemed, fellow members of our profession, I ask you kindly, unclog our language from its depths, for it is going down the drain, and our profession, along with it!

Te iubesc, nu-ntelegi? / I love you, don't you understand?

"Eu te iubesc, nu-ntelegi?" i-a spus ea, cu vocea tremurand, sugrumandu-si suspinul iminent. Nu m-am intors sa-i vad fata, a ramas o voce care mi-a miscat, in seara aia de mai, universul, care m-a facut sa filosofez tacuta pentru cateva momente, cu gandul aiurea, si cu vocea ei rasunandu-mi in minte. Cine era, nu conteaza, si nici povestea din spatele declaratiei disperate.

Oare de cate ori in viata ne e dat sa realizam cat de usor e sa iubesti, si totusi cat de greu este sa gasesti iubirea? E uman sa ne permitem sa nu intelegem iubirea cuiva, sau, mai rau, sa o tratam cu indiferenta? Daca nu s-ar fi inventat banii, iubirea ar fi jucat probabil cu succes rolul de moneda de schimb.

I-am strans mana, s-a intors usor si i-am zambit. Habar n-avea ce-mi trece mie prin minte...

***

"I love you, don't you understand?" she told him, her voice trembling, stifling her impending sigh. I didn't turn to see her face, there remained a voice that moved, that May evening, my universe, that made me philosophize quietly for a few moments, my mind wandering, her voice ringing in my head. Who she was doesn't matter, nor does the story behind the desperate declaration.

How many times in life do we get to realize how easy it is to love, yet how hard it is to find love? Is it human to allow ourselves not to understand someone's love, or worse, to treat it with indifference? If money had not been invented, love would probably have successfully played the role of currency.

I squeezed his hand, he turned slightly and I smiled. He had no idea what was going through my mind...

Criza...de nervi! / Nervous breakdown

Am luat-o cu totii razna cu criza asta! 

Sunt 5 luni de cand aud acelasi refren: criza, criza, criza... Criza in presa, criza in companii, criza de inspiratie, criza de subiecte, criza de oameni, sau nu, ca aici e subiect discutabil, s-ar putea sa fie prea multi, asa se dau mari companiile care fac disponibilizari, de "crizati" ce sunt.

Nu stiu altii cum sunt, dar mie mi s-a luat definitiv de criza asta. Mi-e dor de vremile de alta data, cand interviurile in presa nu contineau invariabil raspunsuri la intrebarile "Veti face disponibilizari?" sau "Ati modificat estimarile privind evolutia companiei, in contextul crizei?".

Un subiect de presa are de regula o durata de viata limitata, insa de criza asta nu s-a mai saturat nimeni? Chiar si o veste buna e imbracata in haine de doliu, ca sa fie in trend...

Suntem pe marginea unei crize de nervi, oameni buni. O luam cu capul, unul cate unul. Incepem sa ne pierdem mintile, si pentru noi, astia care am apucat sa ne dam cu capul de criza asta, sau de hiperbolizarea ei, cuvantul CRIZA nu va mai fi niciodata la fel. 

N-ati vrea sa fim ai optimisti, sa ne axam putin pe ce merge bine, in ciuda crizei, babaul mare si urat care ne-a zapacit pe toti? 

Asta-s eu, mai optimista si mai increzatoare de fel. Poate se ia si la altii...

***

We've all gone crazy with this crisis! 

I've been hearing the same refrain for 5 months: crisis, crisis, crisis... Crisis in the press, crisis in companies, crisis of inspiration, crisis of subjects, crisis of people, or not, as this is a debatable subject, there may be too many, so companies are showing off by making redundancies, becausenwe are all in "crisis".

I don't know about others, but I am definitely fed up with this crisis. I miss the old days, when interviews in the press invariably didn't contain answers to the question "Will you be making redundancies?" or "Have you changed your estimates of the company's performance in the context of the crisis?".

A press story usually has a limited shelf life, but hasn't anyone had enough of the crisis? Even good news is dressed in mourning clothes, to keep it on trend...

We're on the verge of a nervous breakdown, people. We're taking it one head at a time. We're starting to lose our minds, and for those of us who've got our heads around this crisis, or the hyperbolization of it, the word CRISIS will never be the same. 

Wouldn't you like us to be the optimists, to focus a little on what's going well, despite the crisis, the big ugly bugger that has zapped us all? 

That's me, more optimistic and hopeful that way. Maybe it'll rub off on others...

A mai trecut un an / Another year has gone

Stimata audienta, Sunt obosita, groaznic de obosita. De munca, de viata, de trebi... Azi a trecut un an de cand am schimbat ceva, in bine, sau in rau, depinde de ziua in care lansez afirmatia, de starea de spirit si de cantitatea de neuroni cazuti la datorie in perioada cu pricina. A fost un an bun, in care am contribuit sarguincios la consolidarea carierei mele de profesionist in "tainele comunicarii", dar si un an care mi-a brazdat cateva riduri adevarate pe frunte. Firul de par alb de care ma plangeam cu alte ocazii a cazut si el prada oboselii si asediului indarjit al periei, deci am scapat macar de stresul unei ierni timpurii in plete... Sa-mi fie de bine, sa am un an de doua ori mai bun, daca se poate :), si poate reusesc sa ma odihnesc in timp ce lucrez, daca nu cumva cer prea mult...

***

Dear audience, I'm tired, terribly tired. Of work, of life, of stuff... Today it's been a year since I changed something, for the better, or for the worse, depending on the day I launch the statement, the mood and the amount of neurons fallen to duty in that period. It has been a good year, in which I have contributed diligently to the consolidation of my career as a professional in the "mysteries of communication", but also a year that has furrowed some real wrinkles on my forehead. The white hair I used to complain about on other occasions also fell prey to fatigue and the relentless siege of the brush, so I at least escaped the stress of an early winter in my hair... May I have a year twice as good, if possible :), and may I manage to rest while I work, unless I ask for too much...

Rolul comunicarii intr-o organizatie / The role of communication in an organisation

Imi amintesc o idee centrala in jurul careia s-au desfasurat mai multe speech-uri in cadrul conferintei PR Forum de anul acesta. Sala plina de oameni de comunciare, toti cu aceleasi frustrari si cu aceleasi ambitii. In stanga si-n dreapta mea oameni care inca mai spera la marea reusita, lupta sa ajunga importanti si sa fie luati in seama. La prezidiu, cativa dintre cei care au reusit deja, care acum impart din experienta dobandita. "Luptati pentru locul vostru in Board"...
Am plecat cu convingerea ca e un lucru simplu, ca deja managerii romani au inceput sa inteleaga rolul comunciarii... Si totusi, cat de departe suntem de acest ideal. Cat de greu le este inca managerilor obisnuiti sa taie si sa spanzure dupa bunul plac sa se consulte cu "negrii de pe plantatie" cand au ceva de spus sau de comentat, in interiorul sau in exteriorul companiei. Si asa, dupa ce ai reusit cu greu sa dovedesti ca esti mai mult decat "a pretty face", trebuie sa lupti in continuare atat pentru a mentine statutul cu greu dobandit, dar si pentru a fi mai mult decat un operational amarat care face ce i se spune si ce se decide fara a fi consultat, nici macar in aria ta de expertiza.
Si asa ajungi sa faci planul de comunicare in jurul bugetului deja stabilit, sa schimbi mesajul pentru ca nu merge cu contextul urmarit, si apoi, intr-o zi, sa gasesti niste declaratii ale companiei postate pe nu's ce site fara stirea ta, sa constati greselile facute, sa inghiti in sec si sa modifici iar, a cata oara? planul de comunicare.
Si cateodata iti vine sa-ti iei campii, sa pleci, sa cauti alt job care la prima vedere pare locul de munca ideal, si la a doua vedere iti ofera aceleasi eterne frustrari.
Si o iei de la capat, over and over again...

***

I remember a central idea around which several speeches at this year's PR Forum conference revolved. A room full of community people, all with the same frustrations and ambitions. To my left and right people still hoping for the big break, struggling to become important and be counted. In the chair, some of those who have already succeeded, who now share their experience. "Fight for your place on the Board"...

I left with the conviction that it's a simple thing, that already Romanian managers have started to understand the role of communication... And yet, how far we are from this ideal. How hard it is still for managers who are used to cut and paste as they please to consult with "slaves on the plantation" when they have something to say or comment on, inside or outside the company. And so, after you've managed to prove yourself to be more than "a pretty face", you have to keep fighting both to maintain your hard-earned status, but also to be more than a poor operative who does what he's told and what is decided without being consulted, even in your area of expertise.

And so you end up making the communication plan around the budget already set, changing the message because it doesn't go with the intended context, and then, one day, finding some company statements posted on some website without your knowledge, noting the mistakes made, swallowing dry and editing again, for the umpteenth time? communication plan.

And sometimes you just want to get out, leave, look for another job that at first glance seems like the ideal job, and at second glance offers the same eternal frustrations.

And you start all over again, over and over again...

Chestie de comunicare interna / Internal communication matter

Imi place la nebunie atmosfera de la munca! Poate asta e unul dintre cele mai importante motive care ma tin in loc cand ma apuca dorul de duca si pofta de schimbare, sau cand urla revolta in mine din cauza divesilor factori stresanti din viata oricarui angajat constiincios si dornic de afirmare. Au trecut 6 luni de cand eram pusa in fata unei adevarate "mission impossible" inca din prima zi de lucru. Cuvintele alea m-au urmarit vreme buna, si cu siguranta vor ramane intiparite in memoria mea mult timp: "Ai trei luni la dispozitie sa arati ce poti face pentru noi. Vreau sa vad oamenii zambind pe holuri". Si uite, dupa 3 luni lumea zambea, dupa o jumatate de an deja rade, glumeste, canta, leaga prietenii :). Greu de demonstrat, dar e si meritul meu. O stiu eu, o stiu ei, o stie si cel care mi-a predat sarcina imposibila. Am noroc deci ca nu trebuie sa demonstrez. M-a costat multa munca, mult timp, o gramada de lecturi suplimentare, o tona de creativitate, si, cel mai dureros, un fir de par alb, rasarit exact in crestetul capului. Pretul e mare, dar merita: dai un ban, dar stai in fata! Pot sta in fata si pot arata rezultatele, cu fruntea sus. Dar lupta e abia la inceput. Am demonstrat ca oamenii comunica, daca le pui la dispozitie instrumentele necesare, ii inveti cum sa comunica si le arati ca nimic rau nu se poate intampla din asta. Am cladit ceva, si nu a fost asa de greu cum imi imaginam. Acum incepe munca de consolidare, de intretinere, de grija ca totul sa nu se naruie dintr-o greseala stupida. Important e ca-mi place, ca am sprijin si ca inca ma mai tin puterile sa ma lupt cu toti si cu toate, pentru a ajunge acolo unde-mi doresc.

***

I love the atmosphere at work! Maybe that's one of the most important reasons that hold me back when I get homesick and hungry for change, or when rebellion is screaming inside of me due to the various stressors in the life of any conscientious and assertive employee. It's been 6 months since I was faced with a real "mission impossible" from the first day of work. Those words have been with me for a long time, and will surely stay with me for a long time: "You have three months to show what you can do for us. I want to see people smiling in the corridors". And look, after 3 months people were smiling, after half a year they are already laughing, joking, singing, making friends :). Hard to prove, but it's also my merit. I know it, they know it, the person who gave me the impossible task knows it. So I'm lucky I don't have to prove it. It cost me a lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of extra reading, a ton of creativity, and, most painfully, a white hair, sprouting right at the top of my head. The price is high, but it's worth it: you give a penny, but you stay ahead! I can sit up front and show the results, with my head held high. But the fight is just beginning. We have proven that people communicate, if you give them the tools, teach them how to communicate and show them that nothing bad can come of it. We built something, and it wasn't as hard as I imagined. Now begins the work of consolidation, of maintenance, of making sure everything doesn't get damaged by a stupid mistake. The important thing is that I like it, that I have support and that I still have the strength to fight with everyone and everything to get where I want to be.