“Three, two, one - Action,” the director called as all lights brightened. It was a cue for the show to begin.
At that point, no checking the phone or goofing around.
“Hi, welcome to Speed Dial. My name is Irene, and on today’s show, we have our guests….” I went on, reading from the teleprompter.
That day I felt like my make-up was off, but I didn’t want to subject the make-up artist to harsh criticism.
“Did you get a cheat shot today, Jeffrey,” I asked the director while handing over the tablet. A cheat is a special shot where angles are used to get interesting footage of people or objects.
“Yes, nice shots. Today we had over 40,000 live online viewers. It’s the highest we have had in the year. Or maybe since you came,” Jeffrey added.
“Oh, come on. Cut me some slack,” I blushed as I watered down his compliments. My legs were burning inside the stilettos. I sat on the sofa in my office and removed them, sighing with relief.
Our offices are located in Upper Hill. A digital media company running advertisements, campaigns for corporates, videography and social media management.
Two days into my work, some colleagues were already lamenting how fast and demanding I was.
Let me tell you a little about my background. Okay, not how I was born, who I dated and all that celebrity vibes. Haa. I won’t also speak about how many followers I have on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter.
But wait a minute. Let me take a break, for I am wrapping up the day. There’s a joint in Lavington where I am rushing to relax and pass the day as I tell you this story.
Ahh! Good thing the traffic today is quite light. Sometimes I can sit in a cab for even 45 minutes along Woodlands Road, for a journey that usually takes 23 minutes.
“You look good, Irene,” the restaurant manager stated as I walked in. “The usual?” he asked.
“Yes, Black and White. Today, I’ll have a neat one,” I responded.
I used to work as a model at an agency and as a communication strategist at another. Something unique about digital media is that it is ever-changing.
You have to learn and relearn. I also ran my own show on YouTube and TikTok, where I impact lives.
From reporting on youthful innovators to philanthropists changing lives and women who rise and shine in different sectors.
Sometimes, I’d hire vehicles for shoots or locations too. Sometimes I’d get them for free from my friends.
But having worked solo on some projects, I understood the demand. I expect 100% from myself more than anyone expects from me. One thing people never comprehend is that as an entrepreneur, you account for every single dime.
That’s the personality I carried to my new job as an anchor and departmental head. I requested a week of rest before reporting. And that’s the week I used to analyse the gaps and challenges.
I demanded teasers for my show, asked the boss to retrain the team I was to work with and met them for a personal briefing.
Thus upon joining, I knew how to raise the numbers. That’s the challenge my colleagues faced.
For me, I always believe in never letting your demand down. Keep pushing and opting for the best.
But tolerance. Our uniqueness, individuality, and life experience mould us into fascinating beings. That’s all we embraced. An atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and compassion.
My main goal is to rise and head the company as a manager. Some friends would tell me, ‘Irene, you are overambitious’. I hear that a lot, but isn’t ambition priceless?
About my social life. Ahhh! Yes, I balance a lot.
After work, I party with my friends, family, and colleagues.
We also go to nightclubs and trendy live gigs. I usually get invites for lots of shows where I emcee too. And movies too. As an aspirational millennial, I enjoy my life to the fullest.
Like right now, I am waiting for some friends to join me for a party.
And it's just the right time to order a Black and White bottle and enjoy the night.
Having family and friends around is amber that brings resolve to my soul. Better days ahead.