Peter - I'm sorry to hear you've sold out! Seriously, I agree about
impressions, but I suspect they're not always made by external
appurtenances. Without wishing to blow my own trumpet (though why not?), the
words depositors and other senior managers generally use to describe me,
apart from "odd", are "energy" and "enthusiasm", which goes with the image I
try to project of the guy who breaks the rules in the interests of helping
you and protecting your archives. I'm sure I could be followed by someone
who goes for "cool professionalism" with excellent results; the important
thing is that the image is internally coherent and says something positive
to the people you're dealing with. My image without the energy would
probably seem down-at-heel, couldn't-care-less; the grey suit without the
professionalism would be staid and boring.
By the way, and just to correct any mistaken impressions, I've never worn a
cardigan in my life and can't stand the things....
Carl Boardman
Oxfordshire Record Office
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-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 7:26 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: FW: How we are perceived
"...regards a tie as the infallible sign of
a saddo nerd."
And gee I always thought it was a badge of honor since that is what the
client expects. Sort of the uniform of the day so to speak.
First impressions are the strongest impressions and they are also the
hardest to break.
If the media perceives archivists as frumpy, cardigan wearing folks it is
probably because the image has been confirmed over time. And yes there are
exceptions to the rule.
It is a fact of life that if you dress like a professional folks will
perceive you as a professional, act like a professional ...
from one who once wore his hair long, had a hairy upper lip and wore sandals
all day long, but who now wears a tie.
--
Peter A. Kurilecz CRM, CA
Richmond, Va
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