It’s the million-dollar question, and thanks to a friendly wager we initiated here at the Davis Advertising office, one smart and/or lucky winner will get to find out!
Okay, so the bet isn’t for a million dollars. Actually, it’s $999,982 less than that. Yes, that is $18.
This winter dropped feet upon feet of snow on us here in Central Massachusetts (Snowmageddon, anyone?), and combined with the parking lot-plowing prowess of our facilities supervisor, Dirk, it left a mountain at least 15 feet tall outside of our building.
Always one for fun and games, art director Paul suggested an internal contest to Courtney, our social media coordinator, regarding “Mount Davis.” Participating employees bet one dollar to guess by which date the snow pile would be COMPLETELY melted, and the contest would be chronicled in part on the Davis Facebook page. In total, we received 18 guesses—not bad for an agency with less than 50 employees—ranging from a hopeful April 3 to a discouraging June 4.
Based on the range of dates we received, the thought processes of our employees obviously vary greatly. So what would these employees do if they won a million—err, 18—dollars?
Most people said they would put it toward doughnuts, pizza or snacks for the entire company (our employees are so thoughtful), while some, like generous graphic designer Devon, said he would spend it on a big, delicious breakfast for himself at the diner down the street.
Similarly, Paul is refusing to buy pizza for everyone; he will instead rub it in everyone’s faces that he is the winner if the snow melts by his chosen date of April 23.
“It’s more than the money,” he said of the bet. “It’s about bragging rights at this point.” We obviously take this stuff pretty seriously around here.
Meanwhile, account executives Andrea and Barbie had contradicting ideas on how to spend the $18:
“I would’ve bought gloves because it’s snowing again!” a disappointed Andrea said shortly after her date of April 3 had passed. In contrast, Barbie, who chose May 1, said she will buy a snow cone maker with the money if she wins because she will miss all the snow! Everyone in the entire New England region hopes she is kidding.
What would happen if we upped the ante on our little bet and the winner really did receive a million dollars? Answers ran the gamut from practical to extravagant—mortgage pay-offs, new homes, tropical vacations, etc., but there were some unique responses, as well.
Barbie would start by plugging money into her home and other personal opportunities, but she also said she would be sure to save some in order to support her cousin’s animal rescue venture. Don’t Forget Us Pet Us, out of Dartmouth, strives to make animals’ second chances at life truly count, something Barbie feels strongly about.
On the other hand, Josh in the art department would hire a lawyer if he won a million dollars because he would fear people trying to mooch off of his new-found riches, he said half-jokingly.
And Paul’s hypothetical plans are…gracious: “I’d give everyone here $1,000, and then I’d moon you all on the way out!” he said, joking completely—we hope!
Maybe it’s a good thing we didn’t up the stakes…
