Feb 14 | Posted by LMA

Interesting how the mind works. Having left P&G Canada many years ago, it is clear to me now, more than ever, that the seven years spent in the “salt mines” was worth the trip. While most of us alums will not admit it out loud, our P&G years were probably the best of our careers (and I am not referring to personal income!).

No one will fess up to the shenanigans that transpired our daily lives, certainly within what was then called the Brand Department within P&G Canada. And, at the risk of embarrassing some of the folks who might be in attendance this June, I will spare you the details. What I will say is this: for every minute of fun, there were many hours of just plain old-fashioned hard work.

It was not that P&G hired better people (the HR Department is never lauded for their excellent work, and the resumes of the applicants always seemed to hit our department en masse each spring). It was not just that P&G promoted from within. It was this: the goal of every manager was training, and his or her managers instilled this responsibility throughout the organization.

I remember my first analysis of a Nielsen bi-Monthly Market Share Audit. I recall my Brand Manager, Bob MacNelly, took me through 20+ re-writes. Then on to my Associate Advertising Manager, John Yokom, who in his own way ripped both of us with a further rewrite. Protesting that the next two-month report was already released was out of the question. The document had to be perfect.

I also remember my rather chaotic period as a sales trainee. I must have been the worst salesman than P&G ever had. In fact, I was told many years later that my District Sales Manager, John Morton, had asked that I be removed. John Yokom, it is reported, declined: not so much because he was pulling for me, but I suspect, because he wanted to drive the sales team crazy. (The classic rivalry between marketing and sales probably had its roots with P&G, as both departments jostled for superiority.) This left an unfortunate Unit Manager named Tom Blake with the responsibility of reining me in. In hindsight, he did a pretty decent job of it.

I could go on with more stories. My P&G colleagues have by and large been successful in business, family and life. Given that the only common element between these individuals was their Procter years, it naturally reasons that the experience had something to do with it. The Alumni meeting is an opportunity to rekindle these relationships and perhaps, to have one more “kick at the can” in terms of learning something new. See you there.

Larry Mogelonsky is President of LMA Communications Inc. Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, LMA provides sophisticated B to B solutions to the hospitality and association industries.