by Adam
This is our 9th post in our series on The Office. We’ve covered a lot of ground. Specifically, we’ve talked about both operating within your Strength Zone.
In Episode 9, Season 9 (“Dwight Christmas"), we see one quality inside Jim’s Strength Zone intersect with another topic in an important way.
But before we get to the dialogue, let me briefly step up onto my soapbox:
Let’s talk more about reputation. Specifically, about your professional reputation. We touched on the edge of this concept in a previous post, but it’s time to elaborate a bit more.
To tee this up for us, let’s revisit two statements from Kevin:
“When I was beginning my career in public accounting, I wanted to find a path to launch my career. I could quickly see that just trying to be the best auditor was not going to be my best strategy to be unique--or stand out. There were too many people that were more technical, willing to work more hours, and didn’t mind traveling. However, I took some time to focus on my own strengths at that time.”
“Warren Buffett once said that it takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it. Not that you need a dimwit like me to support an opinion from the great Mr. Buffett, but he is so right...once again!”
-Kevin from our post "Warning: You’ve Got a Reputation"
Therein lie two very important ideas.
First, what constitutes a “good” reputation will be unique to you. Said differently, if you ask someone “what is this guy's reputation” and they say “good,” you will understandably find that answer wanting. In some sense, your reputation represents the degree to which your actions, over time, have provided others with evidence of, and confidence in, your ability to operate within your Strength Zone.
Second, it is easier to lose a reputation than to build it. The cornerstone of a good reputation is consistency. Your ability to operate within your Strength Zone is much less valuable if you can’t be relied upon to do so consistently.
And, that’s where we find Jim. Darryl, Dwight, and in some sense, Pam, spend the episode wondering how fully Jim will live up to the “people first” reputation he has built.
[Jim speaks to the Documentary Crew]
Jim: “I am leaving early today for Philly, because tomorrow is the first day of my new job. So I figured I’d get in at 5, check into the hotel about 6, so I can get a real good night of restless sleep and nervous puking”
[later, in the breakroom]
Darryl: "Philly, exciting stuff man, So, you sure you remember everything for your trip?"
Jim: "Yeah, I think so"
Daryl: "Think that through for a sec"
[Camera cuts to Darryl alone, speaking to the camera crew]
Darryl: “Jim’s going to Philly tomorrow, he said he was going to take me with him, but that was two months ago, and I haven’t heard anything since. I mean, he said that, right? "
[Camera cuts back to Jim and Darryl’s conversation]
“What else could you possibly be forgetting? Things? People?"
[Toby interjects and changes the subject]
Darryl is obviously upset, and unsatisfied by Jim’s lack of communication since he originally floated the idea of a job to Darryl. This is all happening in the midst of the annual Christmas party, where they’re serving (and Darryl subsequently drinks plenty of) alcoholic punch. An inebriated Darryl later shares his frustrations with the camera crew.
Darryl: “Jim, that guy, pfft. You gotta stick to your word! Like when you say something to a buddy, a real buddy, what are you gonna do… LIE? TO YOUR BUDDY?! That’s AWFUL.”
So, we’re left with the impression that Darryl is definitely disappointed with Jim. Jim’s reputation has suffered in his eyes.
Jim: “Oh you know what, I gotta go”
Pam: “Oh really, already?”
Jim: “I’m sorry”
Dwight: “Hey, where are you going?”
Jim: “I have to go to Philly, but, this was amazing”
Dwight: “But you work tomorrow”
Jim: “Yeah, I know, I just like to settle in, get a good night’s sleep”
Dwight: “But we were going to break the pig rib”
Jim: “Awwww”
Dwight: “Remember?”
Jim: “That’s right”
Dwight: “No matter, Belsnickel cares not”
To understand why Dwight is dressed up like an imaginary Christmas character named Belsnickel, and why he subsequently beats Jim with a stick, I recommend you watch the full episode. But, to sum it all up: Dwight is very disappointed Jim is leaving the party early. And, while Pam doesn’t assault Jim with a makeshift weapon, we can tell she is upset too:
Pam: “Well, this is it” [teary expression]
Jim: “I’m probably never going to see you again”
Pam: “Shut up, I’m trying to be serious”
Jim: “Hah, ok”
Pam: “I can’t believe this is actually happening”
Jim: “Listen, thank you so much, for putting that all together, that was the perfect last Christmas party”
[Pam looks sad, if not a bit disappointed]
Jim: “Alright, wish me luck?”
{Jim and Pam hug]
Pam: “Good luck, you’re going to be great”
Jim:“I’ll call you when I get in?”
Pam:“OK”
Jim: “Alright”
Pam:“Love you”
Jim: “Love you”
As Pam rides the elevator back up to The Office, she crosses paths with Dwight as he storms out, going home to change out of his Belsnickel costume.
Pam: “What’s going on”
Dwight: “Party’s over. You quit on Christmas, Christmas quits on you”
Later, after Dwight has returned to the office, he elaborates on his frustrations
Dwight: “Jim couldn’t even stay until the end of the party”
Pam: “But that didn’t have anything to do with you”
Dwight: “I don’t care. Guess how much I care on a scale of one to ten”
Pam: “Zero”
Dwight: [expletive]
As if Jim’s apparent popularity hadn’t fallen far enough, the camera cuts back to a one-on-one with Darryl, who catches us up to where he’s at with the whole “‘real buddy” rant he started earlier.
Darryl: “I’m going to tell Jim to go [expletive]”
Wow!
So here we are. Jim is deeply unpopular, and In this one post I have censored the first and second bad-word in the history of this blog. There’s more to the story, but I think we’ve gotten enough raw emotion out on the table for one day’s reading. Next week, we’ll tackle the aftermath, and the implications it has for the Mentoring Program.