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From Jo Ann Bates, Executive Assistant:

A few weeks ago, just days before Kara Berklich, Tripod's Director of Communications, left Tripod to go on exotic trips around the world, she stopped by my desk to ask if I'd be willing to be interviewed by a freelance writer doing a story for The Wall Street Journal. Kara is a pro — she asked me this question like she was asking me what time the pizza was going to be delivered. Kara went on to explain the details of the story this writer would be pitching to the Journal. According to Kara, he had already interviewed several people working at Internet companies with positions similar to mine. He wanted to hear what it was like to be me — I'm Bo Peabody's Executive Assistant. Bo is the President and co-founder of Tripod. I also work for Dick Sabot, another co-founder of Tripod and Bo's former Economics professor at Williams College. Working with Dick is a whole other letter I'll have to write someday.

So there I sat, feeling like I was being offered an opportunity to represent every working woman of a certain age. We work for CEOs who get to spend their mornings reading the WSJ, while we, their hardworking counterparts, take the WSJ home and read it in the evenings when we have a bit of spare time. Of course, I said I would be delighted to be interviewed, and I couldn't wait! Kara really made it happen. Instead of spending the afternoon cleaning out her office filled with four years' worth of media and communications memorabilia, Kara agreed to sit in on my telephone interview. Please note, I asked her to do it because this was big stuff for me!

The writer called me at 1:00 p.m. When the interview was over, Kara (did I mention that she is the best of the best in her field and a graduate of Williams College?) told me that I did splendidly. I felt like I had just earned an honorary degree from her alma mater.

The next day, Tripod held several going away parties for Kara. Later that night, Kara was aboard an airplane on her way to California for a month of fun with her boyfriend, Ben (did I mention that he is a real live movie star?). I was at home tidying up my living room, awaiting the arrival of two of my many favorite co-workers, Anna and Jay. We were going to order Chinese food and have a couple of drinks. Jenny, our Receptionist at Tripod, called me at home to tell me that the writer from the WSJ had just called. He had said it was urgent that I call him back. I called and left a message for him. He called me back. This is where the story starts to get interesting ...

The writer told me that he consulted his editor at the Wall Street Journal, who decided that they would be ditching the other people they had interviewed and, instead, would exclusively feature ME. In fact, the writer planned to arrive in Williamstown the very next day with a photographer. I was going to be digitalized on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

The publishing of my story would depend on one thing: I would have to agree to give particulars about my salary and benefits that would be included in the WSJ article. Kara and I had discussed things earlier, and we had agreed that certain information should be kept confidential. I personally think that money is one thing you just don't talk about. So, while the writer was on the phone making his pitch to me, and while I was thinking that I would soon be experiencing that 15 minutes of fame I do believe each of us is entitled to, he kept insisting that this certain private detail of my job be included in the story.

I just wouldn't back down. As a matter of fact, not backing down from what I believe in is who I am and dictates how I live my life. Standing firm for what you believe in and know to be true works outside, as well as inside, the workplace. I have never discussed my salary with anyone — not a best friend nor a co-worker, not even my mother. Speaking of being stubborn, when I tell Bo I need his attention, I always get it because he knows I'm not going to leave him alone! The same rule applies in that case, too: He knows I'm relentless and that I always get what I want. It's how I get so much done around here.

Well, you won't be reading about me in the Wall Street Journal. I didn't give in to the writer's request. But if Kara had never asked me if I wanted to be interviewed by the WSJ, you would never be reading this story.

Kara, no matter where you are or what you're doing next, remember, when it comes to the front page of the WSJ, I'm always available!

Yours,
Jo Ann (3/5/99)

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Read more "Letters from Tripod" in the archive.

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