Five Questions With Becky Binns
You know that coworker who is so full of life you can’t possibly ignore her when she’s in the room? At ZG, that person is Becky Binns – media buyer & planner, former elite figure skater and more than a little bit extra. You can always count on Becky to make others feel welcome with her signature “HELL-OOO”, share pop culture insights and fill the office with her infectious laugh.
So today, let’s get to know a little more about Becky!
What’s your favorite part of the workday?
Mid-morning. By then, I’m caffeinated and any emergency fires have been addressed or put out. I have a good idea of what lies ahead of me for the day, and I can really begin to tackle my to-do list. It’s probably the most productive time of day for me. In short, it’s when I’m really in the zone.
Tell me about a strong opinion you have about something mundane …
Christina Milian’s 2001 banger, “AM to PM,” has not received the enduring appreciation it so richly deserves. It should be on every ‘00s pop playlist, right up there with Usher’s “Yeah!” and Britney’s “Toxic”. Both the track and music video are textbook early aughts – perfect time capsules of the era. Anyone who considers themselves a fan of the music – nay, the culture – from that period should harbor a healthy obsession for this song. Instead, few remember it ever being in semi-regular radio rotation. Frankly, the erasure of this bop is a crime against humanity.
What was your all-time favorite Halloween costume?
Listen, I go all out for the first of the Q4 holidays. Not a lot of adults give Halloween the respect it deserves, so it’s long been a mission of mine to inject my environment with All Hallows Hype each and every Spooky Season. A key contributing factor? My costumes. The amount of effort and care I put into my costumes each year is ill-advised; asking me to pick a favorite costume is nearly like asking a mother to pick a favorite child. How could I possibly rank JLo from the Superbowl, Miss Frizzle, Rhythm Nation Janet Jackson, Moana, Carmen Sandiego, Carmen Miranda, etc.?
But for the sake of answering the question, I must give homage to the costume that started it all: Tomb Raider II Lara Croft, sophomore year of college. Was it my best or most elaborate costume? Certainly not. However, it was the beginning of a long line of near-cosplay level executions of characters each Halloween. It was the first time I had crafted a costume from thrifted clothes and accessories, rather than buying a costume in a bag, and it sparked a great deal of joy.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
Genuine laughter. I love to laugh and look for humor in things, and I can’t tell you how many rough days have been turned around by witnessing coworkers engage in witty banter, or having someone stop by my desk and tell me a funny story. Wise cracks and one-liners won’t fix every situation, but a reliable stream of them will certainly help keep an environment light and friendly – even in the throes of stress and deadlines.
When will you know you’ve “made it”?
After experimenting with a few different work environments, I’ve discovered that culture is everything for me. Salary, growth, projects and job titles are still important – but they are secondary to finding a place where my true personality and full skillset are not only accepted, but encouraged and seen as an asset. I’ve made it when I’ve found that perfect culture match; it’s what allows me to produce my best work.
Bonus Q: If you could time travel, when and where would you go?
Without a doubt, I’d travel back to start my young adult life over in February of 1964 – anywhere here in the United States is fine because I’d start out by watching Beatlemania take over the country with the band’s legendary appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. My father ensured that the soundtrack to my youth consisted almost exclusively of classic rock, so some of my favorite artists are Led Zeppelin, Foreigner, Queen, Heart, etc. What an incredible opportunity it would be to be able to go back and watch them rise to fame and perform in their prime over the years.