Like I mentioned in my last post, I was recently made redundant. Rubbish. I had been working at creative agency Wieden and Kennedy for nearly three years, since graduating from university. It was a sad time. However, I really surprised myself and saw my redundancy in a really positive way. I loved my job and the people I worked with, but felt that there would be an exciting adventure on the horizon. I just had to keep my spirits high. Law of Attraction etc.
See what bothered me the most was the taboo of redundancy (and that I wouldn't get a leaving card or a chance to say goodbye!). So I decided to take matters into my own hands and rap a redundant goodbye to W+K, London. Why?
1. I wanted people to know that I was fine with things, despite the abruptness.
2 I wanted to spread a little positivity. Redundancy is shit for everyone, not just the redundant.
3. Rapping was therapy. When I did felt down, I literally just rapped my little rap and laughed at myself for having a little rap about my redundancy. (Seriously, more fun and cheaper than a therapist. I recommend it.)
So last day of work, I sat at my laptop with my goodbye email written and the YouTube link embedded. Should I? Shouldn't I? Should! I pressed send, put my head in my hands and anticipated how a redundancy rap would go down. Eek %£@%$Y%!!! And then my inbox was saturated with messages of respect, love and just such niceness. Rapping Redundancy felt good. Here's the rap.
The timing of my redundancy was pretty perfect really. In the evening of my last day, I held a fundraiser for our neighboring ukulele shop (ultimate feel good) and then flew on a girly holiday to Ibiza with my friends. Now W+K had posted my rap on their blog, and as a result when I checked my Twitter a couple of days into my holiday, I had so many positve messages commending my attitude (and even a few job opportunities). I felt great, if not a little embarrassed knowing quite a few people had seen my modest rapping skills!(It has something like 1500 views on YouTube now. Gulp.)
However, not everyone was so supporting. When I arrived back from holiday, I was told of Campaign Magazine's snubbing article. They state it's'embarrassingly girly' and the 'worst middle class' rap in history. Booooo! But it's cool,I wasn't mad. I found it funny that the advertising 'bible' wanted to comment on my little rap. And I also found it a little scary that Campaign Magazine, of all publications, had missed the point entirely. But unfortunately you do get people like Campaign Mag in this world; people who are happy to pick at the negative unnecessarily. It's a shame. Still, sad or not, I wasn't going to let it slide. Hehehe!
Back to the rap board.
I filmed the following and tried to entice Campaign into a rap battle on Twitter. I was really careful not to be stabbing and to keep the tone playful. I really hope people get that.
W+K supported me on their blog and I anticipated Campaign's battle rap reply. Nothing. Instead, the article was removed from their online site and then replaced with another random article. This frustrated me more than the initial snubbing article. Rule number one of social media: If someone responds to content in a way that you don't expect or like, you don't back track and try to reverse the action. You reflect, respond and keep the conversation moving forward. Bad instincts, Campaign. But thankfully,they eventually reposted the article and printed a humble apology to me in this week's publication. I was so chuffed.
'Respeck' right back 'atcha'. YAY!
So what have I learned from rapping my redundancy? Well, quite genuinely, whatever life, people (or magazines) throw at you, always maintain positive. Sulking or getting angry is such a waste of time. Look at the cards that you've been dealt and play them, with a smile. (Geez, I sound like a Hallmark card.) But in all seriousness:
REDUNDANCY + OPTIMISM + RAPPING = WIN
