ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: waypoint on February 10, 2009, 10:49:18 pm
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Who would have believe it. Last week, I was asked by my company to be photographed for the cover of annual report for Spectra Energy. I was told that the Corporate message this year to the street was "Company of Choice". They were looking for leaders in the company that exemplify integrity and such. My name along with two others were picked. I was actually excited that they wanted my picture, considering I'm no George Clooney when I smile.
In fact, when I got home I told my wife the news and then smiled as big as I could with my half crooked smile :-\ and asked her, "So which is my better side?" to which she responded, "funny". So, for the past week, I've been straining and practicing to get the best halfway normal looking smile. In fact, people in the elevator, in the hallway, etc... have been looking at me awkwardly.
Tomorrow, we have to meet up with the professional photograher for a photo shoot. I hope he takes alot of picture, cause the odds aren't very good I'll have a nice smile. Wish me luck.
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Hi there Waypoint, Just to be in the mix is saying something ! ! Putting good vibes out there for you ! ! !
Always good thoughts, Nancy
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I personally think this is the coolest thing! Very, very, cool. Congrats and have fun with it. You will have a beautiful smile!
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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We're going to have another celebs in our midsts! Congrats Waypoint and once published, please let us know so we can see! I bet you are going to look great.
(moved to AN Community where its better suited... thanks for understanding.)
Phyl
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Hey Waypoint,
We are so very proud of both your accomplishments in business and for your opportunities to put a real "face" on AN to the public! Your smile will be terrific and you need to make sure we see some kind of picture.
Priscilla
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Waypoint~
Way to go!! That is SOO exciting! Good luck on the shoot - I bet they will get some good ones!
K
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Plus there is that wonderful closed mouth smile that many of us have perfected! It is better than looking grumpy anyway!
Cheryl R
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Waypoint, aka the George Clooney of the forum ;)
Congratulations on this very high honor.
Once again, you've made us proud!
Jan
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Waypoint:
Congratulations!! I too wanna see a copy when it publishes.
For those people giving you funny looks in the hallway and elevator, may i recommend a breast pump as a form of distraction? It worked for someone else on the forum I just can't remember who.
Syl
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Waypoint -
It's time for your close up! Whoo-hoo!!! Will we get to see a copy of the photo, or will we have to request an autographed one from your fan club? Hey, I'm sure George Clooney has one - why can't you?!
I know you'll look great! Look out GQ!
And Syl, I have a feeling that would be a distraction! :D
Lori
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Thanks for all the well wishes everyone. This has been a long day. I had to fly to Baltimore today for a meeting tomorrow, so I had to pack for my trip and leave straight from the photo shoot. My morning started very early with me, not by choice, reverting to what seemed like elementary school. I started to get dressed and my wife comes in and says, "You're gonna wear that?!?!". Ok, whats wrong with this, I've worn it to work many times before? "But I like this shirt". She proceeds to lay out my entire outfit and tells me this will look good. And all this time, I thought is was me and not the clothes that made me look decent. oh well, reality hurts...
I met up with the three other people in our lobby that were schedule to be photograghed waiting for the vans to take us to the photographer. Understand our dress code is business casual. While we were waiting, there were about 12 other people dressed up in suits. I thought, uh-oh, maybe I over looked an email that said wear a suit. Turns out they were employees from our HR and pubic affairs group that were asked to participate in the photo as extras.
We ended up at this warehouse in downtown Houston, where the photographer has each one of the four of us stand in the middle looking up with a company hard hat on with the extras all around us but facing the opposite direction. When we weren't the one in the middle, we also turned around and participated as extras. The person in the middle was focused and bright, everyone else was darker and not as focused. The photographer was up about 25-30ft and shooting down on the scene. He took about 50 shots each with each one of us in the middle. All morning, I was practicing my smile to try to get the most normal smile possible. It was my turn now. I never made mention of my condition and the photogragher had no idea. But he kept saying, "Ok smile", "Bigger", "Say YES!!!", "look happy", "SMILE!!!"... It took all I had to refrain from saying, I am smiling. :-\ That's all you're gonna get unless you want a severely crooked smile. After it was all said and done, my company will look at all the photos and select the best one for the cover. Kinda like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, but no where near as glamorous.
I thought about it and realized that the chances of me being the one on the cover as the person in the middle is pretty slim. One guy out of the four of us was just much more photogenic and just fit the mold. I think he is a natural and will be most likely be selected as the cover shot. He's a very good friend of mine and use to work for me. He deserves it. I would be proud to see him on the cover because he exemplifies all the good things that makes our company "the company of choice"....it's people.
It was an interesting experience and am thankful for even being asked, even if they don't pick my photo. Who knows, regardless of which photo they pick, I am positive your gonna see my back and the back of my head as one of the people turned away. Heck you may even see my retrosig scar if you look hard enough.
I had alittle time afterwards before my flight to Baltimore, so I stopped by the house to say bye to my wife. She askes me, "How was the photo shoot?" and then it happens. I reverted back to what can only be described as a 2nd grader coming home after school photo day. My wife hugs me and says "even if they don't pick your photo as the cover, you're still beautiful to me honey..."
yep, that's why I love her... that's why I married her... she loves me for who I am.
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Hi there Waypoint: like I said, you're 'in the mix' ! !
Always good thoughts, Nancy
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Waypoint,
You are a super model as far as I'm concerned! You and your wife signifies what a TRUE marriage is all about.
Anne Marie
PS Hope you are home in time for Valentine's Day ;)
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If the picture goes online, post the link, it would be great to see...
says, "You're gonna wear that?!?!". Ok, whats wrong with this, I've
If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that from my wife ... I could get a new boat ! ;)
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Cool story...congrats...sounds like you had fun with it.
BTW...what company do you work for? Sounds like a great place to work from the sound of it....do they need anyone in the Boston area... ;D
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Well, I just noticed that my reply isn't hear. Perhaps for forum gawds didn't like my response.. Anyhow, great news! I'm happy for you!
Brian
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Hi everyone, I though I'd give you an update. Turns out I am going to be on the cover of our company's annual report. ;D Actually, they will be producing four different covers for the Spectra Energy annual report to go out to the "Street". So some investor will receive my mug in the mail while others will receive one of the other three that were on the shoot with me. While the annual report will not be mailed out for several weeks, they did send me a "sneak peek" of the annual report. I wanted to share the cover shot with my AN friends. They made us wear the hard hat for branding. I have one, but only wear it when out on the pipeline. Here's the coverpage:
(http://home.earthlink.net/~thanhphan/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/sp32-20090306-082741.jpg)
This was the best smile I could do out of 100 shots, but the camera did seem to add 50lbs.
Oh, another bit of good news. Spectra Energy was named World's "Most Admired" Pipeline Company on Fortune magazine's annual list of World's Most Admired Companies that came out this week. This identifies us as an “Industry Champion� and the company most admired, according to our peers --- and this ANer is the coverboy. Not too shabby, considering 17 months ago I was on undergoing a 10hr procedure to remove this AN.
Thanks everyone for all the well wishes. Your support and encouragement this past year has truly helped me to grow and push beyond my limitations.
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Ha! Made it after all! Congratulations, Waypoint.
All that stuff they say about how you can do it if you really want to - I guess it really does work.
Hopefully the paparazzi will not be hounding you. ;)
Steve
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All Right Cover boy!!!!! Way to go!!!! So Proud of you!!! You look Marvelous Darling!!!!!
We are all such a good looking group I'd say from all the pictures I've seen, but this is the BEST yet!!!! Be PROUD my friend, so very PROUD!!! :-* :-*
Anne Marie
PS Can you send me a copy of the report? PM if you can
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waypoint! OMG! :o Look at you! :) You look absolutely fabulous!!!!! Great job!!!!! And thrilled to hear you are working for a fab company! Will have to keep an eye on them!
Congratulations! Looks fantastic and you do AN Patients proud! A VERY proud moment!
Phyl
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Great pic waypoint ! Nancy
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Woo woo! Great job, Waypoint! Need another IT Manager type working there too? We could both be on next year's Annual Report cover! :)
Regards,
Brian
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Next cover G.Q you look great congratulations.
Lainie
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Hey, Waypoint -
Can I have your autograph? :D Seriously ~ Congratulations. You look great! This kind of post-op achievement is very encouraging as it demonstrates that there truly can be 'liife after AN'. Nice job! :)
Jim
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"WAY" to go!! Congratulations!!
K
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Two pun-points for Kay! :)
B
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Congratualations ...you look great ...
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Look at that awesome smile! You're a natural at this modeling thing!
What a great achievement!
There's no stopping you!
Lori, another admiring fan
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Waypoint,
Congratulations on the great picture! By coincidence I happen to be a shareholder in Spectra Energy and will look forward to seeing the annual report before too long. I hope your picture will be on the copy we receive. And please keep up the good work with "our" company!
Catherine (Jersey Girl 2)
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You HAVE courage. Way to go! You look great! :)
DHM
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Congrats. After 100 photo shoots, you deserve to be on the cover..Way to go... ;D
Jo