10-27-2016, 08:53 AM
Like writing, I think it's critical to know your audience. I'm a public school teacher. I moved to a new school this year to do a principal internship with a highly respected principal. It's a position I went through three interviews to get.
Although I normally commute by motorcycle almost every day, I drove my newest car to the interviews and wore a suit, a white shirt, and a tie. I got the position I wanted. After a couple of weeks, I began riding to work on "casual Fridays." Then I started riding more often. Now, I'm back to commuting almost every day on my bike.
There are a lot of pre-conceived notions about people who ride motorcycles. I wanted my mentor and my colleagues to understand that I am first and foremost a professional educator. Now they also know that I like to ride. (And the elementary kids think it's the coolest thing ever.) I'm happy it started that way, and that I didn't have to fight a stereotype in order to be taken seriously.
Although I normally commute by motorcycle almost every day, I drove my newest car to the interviews and wore a suit, a white shirt, and a tie. I got the position I wanted. After a couple of weeks, I began riding to work on "casual Fridays." Then I started riding more often. Now, I'm back to commuting almost every day on my bike.
There are a lot of pre-conceived notions about people who ride motorcycles. I wanted my mentor and my colleagues to understand that I am first and foremost a professional educator. Now they also know that I like to ride. (And the elementary kids think it's the coolest thing ever.) I'm happy it started that way, and that I didn't have to fight a stereotype in order to be taken seriously.