A partnership, illustrated

With help from our growing but still lean staff, the PSA's COO Benjamine Knight and I ran two events last month, are preparing for the PSA's World Conference later this month, a Military Speechwriter Training next month and an Asian invasion this winter—all while launching our new venture, Vital Sermons—and a bunch of other things we're not telling you about, can't remember right now, or don't even count as things—like getting two editions of Vital Speeches out every month.

It's a good thing we make such a perfect team.

Because we're a truly complementary pair.

Benjamine's friends tease her because she unpacks her suitcase the same day she returns from a trip. Here's my suitcase, five days after returning from Leadership Communication Days. (When I sent her the photo below, she e-gasped at "the sole of the shoe touching the clothes. 😱")

And then we turn in our receipts. Here is a typical batch from Benjamine, from our New York trip last month. (Does she iron them?)

Here's a typical batch from me, from the same trip. (Was I mugged?)

Every single one of our conversations boils down to me asking, "Benjamine, are you sure you're not overthinking this?" And Benjamine replying, "David, are you sure you're not under-thinking this?" She's occasionally overthinking it (which a lean staff can't afford), and I'm more frequently under-thinking it (which a quality organization can't afford)—but we always come to agreement in the end.

Always.

Between us, Benjamine and I can handle anything.

And everything.

Together.

Comments

[Jackie Fearer]

Benjamin is the best!!! You’re ok, too. 😬

[David Murray]

That was an alternative headline for this piece:

BENJAMINE IS THE BEST, AND I'M OK TOO

[Kate]

Sounds like a perfect match! I, too, cringed when I saw your suitcase and the shoes touching the clothes. However, I clearly remember your crumpled up receipts in a ball in your pocket back when we traveled for Ragan. Some things never change!

[David Murray]

When I kept those receipts at all!