Foot in the mouth

I think that because I am a CEO I am on many different mailing lists and thus receive an inordinate amount of junk e-mail. I have sophisticated SPAM blocker technology in place, but the senders of this stuff apparently have more sophisticated SPAM “escape the blocking technology” technology and it just gets by somehow. As a result on a daily basis I receive significant amounts of junk mail from a wide range of firms offering everything from consulting services, to headhunters wanting me to use their services, to those who want to buy our company, to those who want me to buy some product, or those who want me to attend some conference somewhere.

My daily routine is to go through deleting these nuisance e-mails trying to get to the legitimate e-mails. The other day I got an e-mail and a quick scan revealed that it was inviting me to a conference where Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker. Since I am primarily a conservative Republican and definitely not a Bill Clinton fan, plus the fact that I was in a surly mood anyway, instead of just deleting it like I normally would do, I sent a terse e-mail as follows: “Bill Clinton makes me gag!”

I did not expect a reply; I figured some low level liberal Democrat volunteer might read it and that would be good. In about twenty minutes I got a reply from the CEO of Inc. magazine as follows: “Thanks for writing. I respect your views and I understand that not everyone likes Bill Clinton. I personally respect anyone who has been elected to our nation’s highest office by the American people. The Inc. 500 is a non political event. We bring in more than 40 speakers representing a wide range of backgrounds and views. That’s part of what makes the dialogue and the experience so memorable and stimulating for the attendees.”

Something went off in my brain, “Did he say Inc. magazine?” I did not expect a reply from “anyone”, much less the CEO of one of the most prestigious magazines in the world. I had not read the letter inviting me to the Inc. 500 event, (which I thought was junk e-mail), so I went back and read it. Oops!

The letter was informing me that our company had made their prestigious Inc. 500/5000 list and this was a personal invitation from Inc’s. CEO inviting me to attend their gala event in Chicago. Gulp!

I got on the phone with our media consultant and asked if this was legitimate. She excitedly replied yes and told me that we need to get a press release out about making the list and we need to put it on our website. She went on to inform me that I had delegated responding to Inc’s. application to her months earlier and she and some of our employees had filled it out and submitted it and apparently we made the list. She told me that she routinely worked with their editorial staff in the hopes of getting an article about me or the company in Inc. magazine. “Congratulations!” She excitedly exclaimed. Gulp!

I did apologize to Inc. magazine’s CEO with a subsequent e-mail and tried to explain what had happened. He was the perfect gentleman about it and accepted my apology. My views of Bill Clinton and his wife’s political agenda have not changed, but I should not have expressed them as I did. This poor guy probably does not want some Loganville redneck like me attending his “Black tie” dinner because he might fear that I would ask someone to “Please pass the jelly”. Further he would not want me to attend their private party at the Chicago House of Blues for their private viewing of the B-52 band for fear I would start a fight or something. This is pretty embarrassing.

Lesson learned from this fiasco There is no reason ever to treat someone with disrespect. Bill Clinton and his wife are not my favorite people, but I do not have to be a jerk and mean-spirited about it. The problem with the world today is that it is becoming too mean and uncivil. People just say whatever pops into their mind, no matter if it is demeaning or hurtful to others. As a Christian I want no part of it. Believe me I will think twice before I ever send another e-mail like that one.

P.S. Just as I typed my last word I received yet another junk e-mail inviting me to a Business 21 HR conference. I will not respond and I assume God is chuckling about the timing on that one. The hair is standing up on my neck!

Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as much as depends
on you, live peaceably with
all men.