I couldn’t believe I did it.

Just kill me now.

I was responding to an email from our consultant Sarah. I don’t know why. I hit REPLY ALL.

Tell me you’ve done it too. (Please.)

Okay here’s what happened. I was in a hurry. (check one.)

I assumed it was from my consultant with a copy to our business manager. (check two).

I didn’t review the name in that second line. (check three.)

I was trying to be clever. (check four.)

I didn’t see his name until my curser was poised on send in a downward motion. It was just like when you see someone falling off of a chair backwards; you’re watching it in slow motion, you want to scream but you can’t and you are helpless. Nothing you can do. Nothing.

Out it went – into cyberspace. A message intended for the consultant went to the CLIENT!!!!

Panic.

(What ensues next is chaos in my office - I go down the hall to find our tech guy. Revise that – I FLY out of my office and down the hall yelling...”Can you recall it?” Bob RACES to the server, shuts it down, but I can see by the look on his face that this is just for show. The phone is ringing. It’s Sarah. “Yes, she knows,” I hear our new receptionist say. “We’re trying to recover it.” We stand their staring at each other. Futile. For some idiotic reason I’ve never activated the delay feature on my email - you know the one that keeps the email in your outbox for a minute or two? Of course, now, I’m thinking, “What did I say, exactly?” I go back to read it. It’s not terrible. It’s just..well...EMBARASSING.

I wish I could tell you that this was a bad dream brought on by indigestion from a piece of undercooked fish and too many glasses of Pinot Grigio. I wish I could say it didn’t happen. But it did.

Oh, that damned REPLY ALL button.

Why did I do it? It’s my rule? I NEVER use replay all. Okay, honestly? Maybe once in awhile.
Into the consultant penalty box go I. The price will be steep. I will have to call immediately to explain the inside joke.

Thank GOD IT WASN’T A BAD MESSAGE.

Just for the record - we like to celebrate bringing in a new client by virtually ”throwing the Gatorade.” You know, that ritual that teams have when they drive down the field, score, grab a big barrel and dump it on the coach. It read, “Sarah, let’s get the signed contract and then we’ll throw the Gatorade. Nice job! Your clients must have give you some great recommendations.”
Like I said, it’s not a BAD message. It’s just that we are in the COMMUNICATIONS business. We are not supposed to make these mistakes.

If I worked for ME? I’d be in a lot of trouble today.

In a way I would argue that it’s worse when you’re the boss because you’re supposed to set the standard. I can guarantee right now that I will awaken at 3 a.m. – reliving this horror.

So...learn from my mistake. Be careful. Don’t get sloppy. Copy and paste emails - don’t hit forward. Never hit reply all. Put every name in that line intentionally.

Gee, I hope he laughs when he gets my voice mail.

Just kill me now.