Outsourcing has been the media and management’s darling for the past few years – you can’t have leafed through any magazines or newspapers without having come across this term. Of course we know, we know – improved infrastructure, wage differentials, and a million (or as some articles might suggest, 10-12 billion) other reasons why outsourcing is the way to go.
But what about us mere mortals who don’t happen to own a multinational or two? A.J Jacobs from Esquire is equally piqued by this proposition – and ventured to find out. After hiring a few personal assistants (outsourced from India), he documents his little adventure in this light-hearted article. It’s quite amazing how deft in words these assistants can be – for instance (Honey is the name of his assistant from India):
Plus, Honey is my protector. Consider this: For some reason, the Colorado Tourism Board emails me all the time. (Most recently, they informed me about a festival in Colorado Springs featuring the world’s most famous harlequin.) I request that Honey gently ask them to stop with the press releases. Here’s what she sent:
Dear All,
Jacobs often receives mails from Colorado news, too often. They are definitely interesting topics. However, these topics are not suitable for “Esquire.”Further, we do understand that you have taken a lot of initiatives working on these articles and sending it to us. We understand. Unfortunately, these articles and mails are too time consuming to be read.
Currently, these mails are not serving right purpose for both of us. Thus, we request to stop sending these mails.
We do not mean to demean your research work by this.
We hope you understand too.
Thanking you,
Honey K B
That is the best rejection notice in journalism history. It’s exceedingly polite, but there’s a little undercurrent of indignation. Honey seems almost outraged that Colorado would waste the valuable time of Jacobs.
Interested in your own concierge already?
