Friday, December 26, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Out of Work in Progress: my final post
In the summer of 2006, I went to my boss, TIME managing editor Rick Stengel, with a pitch. "I want to cover the workplace," I said. "I want to write about cubicle psychology and office etiquette and working parenthood. And I want to write about it in a blog."
Blogs were brand new in the olden days of 2006 at Time magazine. A handful of us—the TV guy and the art guy and a gaggle of Washington hands—wanted to try our hand at posting daily notes on our beats. We didn't ask for extra money or fewer assignments from the magazine—just the privilege of covering our beats on our very own Time.com real estate. There was much talk of branding and new journalism. The boss was game.
And so began Work in Progress, a blog about life at work and the work of life. I wrote about treadmill desks (which my friend Belinda Luscombe recently covered in the mag) and things I don't love about working from home (dog farts). Sometimes, my posts led to stories in the mag, such as this one about video resumés and this one about working with jerks (somehow I got away with using a different word in print). Other times, my posts got other blogs all hepped up, such as this one about how my company made me look at porn, or this one about how I don't really hate my dog. (Tragedy: your loads of comments were wiped out when we switched platforms recently.)
As time went on, WiP became the best thing about my job. Truly. Know why? Because, to me, a blog is like a conversation. Where Swampland is a virtual mosh pit, WiP was an office kaffeeklatch about nothing and everything. Like most print journalists old enough to remember a day without Internet, this blog was my first experience talking directly to readers—asking what you thought, getting to know your stories, snorting with laughter at your comments. The WiP community was never huge but always loyal and smart, and hanging with you guys was like living "The Office" without the commute to Scranton.
And I can never go back. Journalism will never be a one-way street to me again. So as I embark on uncharted roads toward a new career doing Lord knows what, I hope you'll accept my continued friendship. If you e-mail me at lisa.cullen@gmail.com, I'll put you on my mailing list and let you know when my web site, www.lisacullen.com, goes live.
Thanks for being my favorite colleague. We'll meet again.
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Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is a New York-based staff writer at TIME. She writes about workplace, business and society trends for the magazine and TIME.com. Read more
- AlterNet Workplace
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- Secrets of the Job Hunt
- The Blogfathers
- The Future of Work
- Work It, a Blog for Working Moms
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Friday, December 26, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Lisa - I especially appreciate your reflections on your process of leaving. It seems pretty certain that there's a great place for you out there, and I wish you well in finding it or creating it.
Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 8:22 am
Lisa:
You may be interested in/amused by this exchange I had after reading your last post with Karen Tumulty over at Swampland (she was 'complaining' tongue-in-cheek about not being part of the Obama press pool in Hawaii:
sjberke Says:
Friday, December 26, 2008 at 8:25 pm
KT, while I appreciate the whimsy as much as anyone, I know you are aware of what is happening in your company, let alone the economy. Forget about the High Sheriffs sending you to Hawaii; be grateful (as I'm sure you are) they are providing you a regular paycheck...instead of making you contemplate committing occupational hara-kiri as your fellow (Work in Progress) blogger Lisa Takeuchi Cullen just did.
Karen Tumulty Says:
Friday, December 26, 2008 at 8:54 pm
sjberke:
I am grateful, and I will miss Lisa.
We will all miss you, dear Lisa!
Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 10:57 am
Over the last few weeks, many of us have felt the same way: like our best friend at the office has been sacked, and we're watching her slowly clean out her desk, knowing that the very last day would eventually come...and now, sadly, it is here. No more chatty water cooler gossip, no more debunking (or starting) rumors, no more sage office advice. Lisa, those of us still hanging on in our cubicles will miss you!
Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 6:00 pm
God bless you in whatever you do next. I work in radio, and I've survived three major layoffs in the past two years. Several friends of mine haven't been so lucky, including my former boss, and a guy I worked with at another media company who lasted through 21 years (and three owners). I'm glad you're having something of a soft landing.
Sunday, December 28, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Lisa, I can't wait until your new site launches. I left corporate America six months ago to raise my kids and have tried to keep a hand in writing, blogging, consulting, etc. (shameless plug: http://dichotomom.blogspot.com/)
You've been an inspiration to me. I admire your candor and your writing style and I've learned so much from you. Can I say that I want to be you when I grow up (even though I'm older)? And, as a mom of a 6 year old and a 5 year old, I know where you are now with your kids. Trust me, it gets easier (in some ways). All the best...you are fabulous.
Monday, December 29, 2008 at 6:40 pm
[sniffle] Bye, Lisa. Your blog has always had a great mix of the interesting (the Great Pantyhose Debate of Summer 2008) and amusingly absurd (the treadmill desk you mentioned above).
.
The thing that really impressed me, though, was how well you interacted with your commenters. Not all bloggers do that as regularly as you, or with such respect and sense of camaraderie. As much as you liked the feedback you were getting from us, it was fantastic to know that we had a voice too.
.
So have fun...off now to send my e-mail and follow your next adventure!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 6:23 pm
It's been real, Lisa. Sad to take my bookmark off this column, but hopefully it will be replaced soon with a new one (hint hint).
Best of luck to one of the most talented writers out there.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 1:55 am
Lisa, we're very said that you are leaving us. Hopefully, there will be a new one soon
Here's a thought for all others: 8hours of sleep or work
These days, I'm more interested in getting 8hours of work. Sleep is important, but having a good job is even more important. A job for 8 hours a day means I can sleep better at night.
BTW, I was looking for a job and came across a site that provides job reviews, salary and layoff information. The site is 8hours.com (http://www.8hours.com). I was browsing the site and saw tons of information on companies, jobs, reviews, layoffs, etc.,
Check it out - maybe you can get your 8hours of sleep (or job)!!!
Good luck....
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I was laid off of a job about 15 years ago. I chose to stay working at home doing data entry and programming jobs so I could be there for my two sons. I am still working at home doing those things only now I have larger clients, many girls working for me and my kids are grown and married. It's not over yet but it's been a good ride.
Best wishes on your endeavor.
http://www.dataplus-svc.com