It's almost a shame. There's room for only one.
I feel confident that whoever we choose will do an excellent job. Because I feel confident in our ability to choose, and to nurture. But, with so many promising candidates to choose from, I find myself imagining how things could be if we could hire several. Graphic designers, photographers, novelists, computer whizzes. I thumb through the resumes and I have to shake my head. There are so many young, talented individuals out there, it's almost dizzying. What could we accomplish if we were fueled by such creativity, such enthusiasm? How powerful we could be.
This isn't to say that we are weak, that we are starving. We are not. Though we are only a staff of four, we work incredibly hard; we've got outstanding writers and incomparably passionate readers, and we've got family, we've got history. And that is more than enough. More than enough. But. It's simply fun to imagine the possibilities.
I thumb through these resumes and I have to reel myself in. Some of these people, though capable, would not make a good fit. Some of these people, it seems, are simply looking for any work they can get. Times are hard. But what sense would it make for us to hire this aspiring fashion designer? Yes, she'll make some small amount of money, but she'll gain no insight into the world of fashion. I mean, JA rocks some pretty sweet V-neck sweaters, but.
And so, in red ink, I scribble: "NO."
This NO joins several other unfortunate NOs, joins several more NOT QUITEs, mingles with a few hopeful MAYBEs.
And then. Today, I met with a candidate.
