Keep your wits about you

Is mercury in retrograde again (when is it ever not?) or are we all just super-tired and on a sugar crash after Easter? This morning, I sent an email to a PR called Alison requesting a quote from an actor called Martin. “Hi Martin,” I breezily wrote. Oops. By the time I’d figured out how to recall the email, it was too late. Needless to say, Alison/Martin hasn’t replied. 

Three hours later, I received an email from a PR called Zoe. “Hi Sophie,” it said. I had to laugh. Poor Zoe had doubtlessly sent out dozens of emails, dutifully changing the name atop of each, but had forgotten to amend mine. I wonder how many non-Sophies she sent it to. When you’re sending out a mailshot, it’s easy to make an error. What was my excuse? Nothing but sloppiness, a trait I detest. I don’t think I’ve ever needed to unsend an email before, but if there’s one thing life teaches us, it’s that there’s a first time for everything.

The moral of the story? Keep your wits about you – especially after a long weekend. And also: more haste, less speed. Or certainly less accuracy. Staff and budget cuts have left us all doing more work for less money: under such conditions, mistakes are bound to be made. Most people will see the funny side, but there will always be those who don’t, and who won’t want to work with you. We never get a second chance to make a first impression. Alison, I’m sorry I blew mine.