Parker's Paradise

By C. Joseph Socha

Parkers Paradise is the authors fifth book, and yet it is about the beginning of his writing career. Its a story about the audio-visual business, sight and sound media that takes place in 1950, at WWIIs end. Socha got a lucky break after graduation from college and looking for writing jobs. There werent any. It was a period where America was getting back into peacetime activity, building new automobiles and replenishing consumer products that were rationed and scarce during the war. And the whole world was rushing into competition for our market. So selling jobs were much in demand. Fortunately, an opportunity opened in the sales training and promotion business. They needed a writer-trainee in the audio-visual industry, someone who would work cheap and learn the business. Joe Socha by-passed a fine paying job as a salesman and took on that trainee position. And thats what this book is about.

A special talent is involved in sales training and promotion work. Its not just a matter of writing words. There is the need for applied psychology, being aware of the psychological reasons why people buy. There is knowing how to write copy that is VISUAL, not so easy to do. It is an acquired skill. There is another element involved which separates the men from the boys, as they say. That is to deliver acceptable copy to meet hard deadlines. The author watched many exceptional writers fail because they could not cut the deadlines. Where creativity is involved, its not a matter of putting in more time to do the job because the mind often tends to rebel when pressure is applied. Its a tough combination. A tired mind tends to respond with dull, unacceptable copy.

In Parkers Paradise the author tells a story honest with his experience. He started as a trainee at age 30, for gosh sakes. Most people his age were locked into careers already. In the book you see how the business is run, creating copy, surviving the politics of the business where those in power make a lot of money and resist losing that power.

And how do you handle the client who often does not really have a good idea what he wants in the programs he pays for. Its a matter of communication, trying to read the clients mind, and handling his insecurity and indecision when meeting those deadlines is endangered. A lot of ulcers in this business. And a lot of quitters who just cant handle the heat.

Bear in mind that the story is about the 1950s era when we used TYPEWRITERS. Made duplicate copies with carbon paper. Used erasers to correct mistakes. No word processors in those days.

So whats this Paradise thing? The paradise idea is something anyone can make use of to control stress. Could help the man who is under a lot of pressure on or off the jobto survive that pressure. I think even housewives can use this Paradise system. They work hard at the family business and feel unappreciated.

Read the book. You will find it interesting, very informative, and maybe even cast new light on your tough life, and how to handle it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 7, 2006
• ISBN: 9781462829040

Book preview

Chapter 1

It is 1950. The largest and most prestigious company in the sales training and promotion business is Stanwyck Corporation. Its founder, Myron Stanwyck, was intrigued by the early motion picture industry. He left his native Minnesota for the motion picture capital what was to become the famous Hollywood. Among his friends were showmen of every facet, the circus, magicians, athletes, and stage performers. His enthusiasm for sports put him in touch with many Olympics athletes, of which he was one. While living on the West Coast, Stanwyck began daily swims of ten miles, now down to just five miles in Michigan waters; and in colder seasons he swims YMCA indoor pools. He was a great athlete, and now, even in his later years, he has a spring in his walk and a mental alertness of a much younger man. He prides himself in this.

His place, Stanwyck Corporation, reflects Myron Stanwyck’s personality. Stanwyck headquarters is just off the Boulevard in the city’s center, an impressive building built in the 1920s. A veranda circles the front of the building. Wide granite lions guard the entrance, two gold doors with marble angels above.

Inside, the elegant lobby is circled, above, by a span of glassed-in offices. Comfortable easy chairs, couches, and tall floor lamps, provide luxurious comfort. All very hushed. Very restful.

At its center is a reception desk commanded by an extremely beautiful young lady with hair as red as her lipstick. Her make-up is perfect but not extravagant. May I help you? the beautiful lady asks, her pencil poised over a notebook. You spoke to her in just a shade above a whisper. That seemed necessary. The beautiful lady speaks clearly yet her voice is somewhat muted.

Do you have an appointment? she asks, patiently. And What is the nature of your business?

You hand your card to her which the lady’s beautifully manicured hand accepts. She says your name, making sure it is pronounced correctly. She gestures gracefully to the chairs in the lobby for you to wait, making you feel very important and impressed.

The receptionist calls your name and you are met by another beautiful lady. Where do they find them? She is given your business card and escorts you. She is positively gorgeous, and walks gracefully, and it is a pleasure to let her lead, giving you a delicious view of her supple movements.

The escorting lady explains the various office spaces passed in a manner making you feel honored and privileged to be in this awesome place, in this sensationally perfect place of business.

To our left is the Meteor Division editorial group, she explains. Then in another area are other automotive-serviced divisions. She speaks practiced words, melodious words, gesturing gracefully. In the offices you see writers busy at their typewriters, looking up curiously, but with respect. You hear the first sounds since entering the building, typewriters, clattering away, and voices, some obviously phone conversations. In a larger office in the center area, a conference appears to be in progress, people watching a visual presentation on a large chart. Most wear suits, blue, a few in shirt sleeves, taking notes.

And here, the lady gestures, was the Stanwyck library. She explains the extent of books and publications available to the writers. There was also a library of audio-visual materials produced by Stanwyck, and competitive companies, as well. A young lady in the center of the library, at her desk, is busy on the telephone. She is Stanwyck’s librarian who has access to the most complete assortment of research materials available, providing writers countless hours of research on any subject needed.

And here was the typing pool, a glass enclosed area and sounds of many typewriters, the ladies at their machines concentrating seriously at their work. Every one as pretty as a fashion model. In an adjoining room, several offset printing machines thump away, producing copies of manuscripts to be bound in presentation covers of Stanwyck blue.

And where was Mr. Stanwyck’s office? Oh, Mr. Stanwyck did not have an office. When he needed one, he would avail himself of any convenient one. And the writers, they are everywhere. Obviously much business going on in Stanwyck this day.

You arrive at your appointment, are greeted with a hearty handshake. Thank you, Gloria, he says to the escort who smiles, a beautiful smile, and gracefully departs, and you hate to see her leave.

Wow! What a place.

That’s the idea!

Chapter 2

Throughout, the Stanwyck Corporation facilities exude an impression of perfection, properness; not a harsh word spoken in the presence of clients or visitors. Along the hallways are impressive gilt-edged printed quotations from famous people, philosophers, and some by Mr. Stanwyck, as well, all emphasizing the values of quality, heroism, dedication to service, the importance of the client that Stanwyck served.

Especially, emphasized, was the understanding that no one criticized, no one disagreed directly with clients or the editors, and certainly, above all, no one ever used profanity. Voices were subdued, not contentious. The customer was always right. The customer was always right!

So it was in this subdued atmosphere that few dared to disagree with revisions demanded by the client or the editors, that George Parker, a Stanwyck account executive serving the Wright Motors Corporation, stood out. George was a no-nonsense, extremely creative and outspoken man, who seemed always to function on the edge of disaster with clients, yet managed to earn the respect of all because his projects seemed always to miraculously come out perfect.

In this business, timing and budgets were the ultimate challenge. The beginning of every year found the client stating the agenda, usually with words like This year we want you to come up with something totally different, more exciting, really smashing, to make the car industry stand up and take notice of Wright Motors. The words are clichés; maybe a word or two in the sentences different from the previous year, but one could almost silently speak the words to one’s self as the client spoke. Oh, and there was the addition of these ominous words, And we’re going to have to cut the costs. Last year’s budget was horrendous.

Usually George Parker endeared himself when he let out a loud guffaw to the client’s shock, and Stanwyck’s chagrin. Truth is, Parker and the clients were on the same page, and they smiled. You come up with the story, talk about technique of delivery and dates, and you let the accountants determine the budget. And Parker was bold and admired for laying out the specifics. So we don’t get into arguments about budgets later, Mr. Wright, let’s get it all on the table so we’ll know exactly what we can and can’t afford to do. Right? The client loved George. Mr. Stanwyck developed ulcers.

When George’s son, John, turned fifteen, George brought him into the building and planted him in the corner of a conference room, telling him: John, you just sit and listen. And that’s what John did. There were moments when Stanwyck people resented this young kid sitting there during creative sessions, but the kid never interfered, and rarely, when he did interrupt, it was with a question, and he listened respectfully to the answers and scribbled notes into his journal which he brought along. He earned nods of approval when his questions seemed to lead to answers of a specific creative problem under discussion. The kid was smart.

Once Myron Stanwyck entered the conference room and asked what in heck the kid was doing here, and George said simply, I want my son to learn the business. Anything wrong with that? Harrumph, said Stanwyck, and the kid stayed.

George set up a co-op training program for John