My New iPhone Sparked a "Sell Me This Pen" Interview Sense-Memory
That pen-selling-story popped into my head when, late yesterday, I traded in my iPhone of four-and-a-half-years for a new model.
I'm certain some of you have been on a job interview when the hiring manager did this...
They reached into their pocket, pulled out a Montblanc or pen of similar value, handed it to you, and said:
"Now, sell this to me..."
As a recruiter I'd roll my eyes when my recruits would tell me that my client asked them to sell them the pen that they already owned. But of course, I'd immediately demand to know how they replied.
That pen-selling-story popped into my head when, late yesterday, I traded in my iPhone of four-and-a-half-years for a new model.
My iPhone? Versatile as a Swiss Army Knife, it allowed me to successfully accomplish so many important and varied tasks.
In cinematic 4k movie mode, it recorded all of the video that you see in What’s Your Work Fit?'s live show intro. In standard video mode, it allowed me to join a podcast host's live show from the Airbnb we rented in Rehoboth Beach.
Connected to CarPlay and Siri, it allowed me to engage with the world...and navigate unfamiliar places...hands free.
The easy-to-navigate screen connected me to “my Socials” to post new content wherever I happened to be.
And it delivered to me the FaceTime from my daughter, the one where she wanted me to know how much she was enjoying her nursing school program, that she visualized one day becoming a good nurse, and that she loved me.
Technologically speaking, the differences between iPhones and Samsung smart phone models are completely lost on me.
Yet, since the pandemic, my iPhone enmeshed me with the-most important events of my life and career.
And yes, early in my career I'd been on the business end of that pen-selling-request.
When, during one interview, I was asked to sell the pen placed before me I took a beat to gather my thoughts, lifted the pen off the table, looked into the eyes of my interviewer and said the following:
"This instrument? It is important for it will memorialize all of your career and life success milestones. It will ink all of the big sales contracts you have worked so hard to close. It will be with you all the way from middle management to the c-suite. And, it will also signify the contract on the dream house that you and your spouse have always wanted and never thought you'd be lucky enough to own."
(Wow! I can't believe I once uttered that bull**** out loud. 🤣)
My new iPhone? I expect it to accomplish all that the old one did and much more. It'll be my gateway to work and workplace AgenticAI, that I am sure.
What is more, it will be close by as I refine a work fit where work becomes a wonderful part of my day doing other wonderful things.
Indeed, our best days lie ahead. (Now, would you please hand me my new iPhone?)
Note: image rendered on ChatGPT 4o based on our prompts.
I’m Dan Smolen. As host and executive producer of WHAT'S YOUR WORK FIT? I help you make your work and workplace decisions result in better and more satisfying professional experiences and outcomes. I am also a Founding Member of The Future of Work Alliance.