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I just wrote a complaint letter to a large, public corporation.  Nope, I've never done that before.  I've always figured, why bother?  What will it accomplish?  Nothing.  But that was <50 me.  For >50 me, it's not about accomplishment.  It's about venting.

In my many years, you can trust that, on the job, I have written countless business letters.  My usual method is to list the salient aspects that I want to express.  Then I write it, carefully formatting and crafting it with appropriate language and editing, to illustrate my points.

This time, I just spewed.  I wrote to Whomever, complaining bitterly about their discontinuation of a product that I've used forever.   Doesn't matter what the product is – that's not my point.  The point is, I think it's healthy to at least tell somebody you're mad. And I did.  Okay, I'll reveal this much.  The term "Big Pharma" might have been used.  In conjunction with a terrible reputation for various reasons.  Like over-paid execs who don't care.

(I'm not a conspiracy theorist – I don't run around shouting that they've found a cure for cancer but aren't telling anyone because cancer drugs are a multi-billion dollar industry and they're not about to give up an obscenely large cash cow.   I'll only say that if it turns out to be true, I won't exactly be shocked.)

By the way, I didn't email that corporation.  I printed out an actual letter – a piece of paper.  I put it in an envelope, applied a stamp and placed it inside a mailbox.   There was something almost cathartic about the process.  No, of course they won't start making that product again – but someone will read the words that I took the time to write.  And if only the phrase, "I'm angry," registers with one person who reads it, that person will know the company disappointed a customer.  That's good enough.

One Thing That >50 Me Has Learned On the Way...

There are no friends in business.  There are colleagues – superiors, peers, subordinates.  Unless that colleague is someone with whom you spend time on the weekends, plan getaways, exchange birthday and Christmas presents, go to movies or go shopping, etc., they are just a colleague.  If you really enjoy working with someone, that's a colleague with whom you have excellent rapport.  But still just a colleague.  Bottom line – do not ever tell a colleague anything that you would not want a superior to find out.  If you do, you will regret it.  Sooner or later, they will tell.  They may not like themselves for it, but for one reason or another, they will tell.  No, I'm not going to tell you how I know this – because that would be me betraying someone.  Just be still and know that it is true.