But he ignores me. I really want to connect with him though, so I send him an email every week. In the email, I tell him the things I’d love to talk to him about next week, and link him to something I wrote about him the week before.

“Just imagine how much better this would be with your input,” I say.

By now, you realize I’m not talking about a crush. I’m talking about work, and how annoying I sometimes have to be to get in touch with a source that plays hardball.

The idea is that eventually he’ll cave and grant an interview to me, the reporter that was always thinking of him, the reporter that was there for him all along.

It’s a terrible relationship strategy. So I didn’t have much hope for it as a career strategy. Honestly, it sounds obnoxious. But my editor told me to trust him.

And he’s right. I’m starting to get responses. First, a cold: ”I’ll forward this email to the appropriate department.” Then, a genuine response from one of his employees.

Putting myself in his shoes, maybe it wouldn’t be so annoying to receive a polite, weekly email from somebody who just wants to give you publicity. I think I’d like that. 

Maybe tomorrow, I’ll hear from the man himself.