I’ve had more than a few folks tell me that they can’t possibly show their “real” personalities to their business clients. They would not be taken seriously unless they presented a watered-down version of themselves.

Do you think that, too?

I wonder where these notions originated. Back at the beginning of work time thousands of years ago? It means you have to juggle several masks – work, play, in-between, and remember which one to put in the morning, which one to put on at night, which one to wear networking.

It’s interesting that we feel that our dull, sterile personalities would come across as a condition to be taken seriously — whatever that means. I wonder if some people believe that because then they don’t have to take the risk to reveal themselves. (more…)