So, I have this job that I really like so I don’t talk about it so I don’t lose it, right? At this job, I stay in my office and rarely see any other humans throughout the day. I work on my data/maps for random customers I hear referenced by name or organization. I have no contact with these customers as I am not a project manager of any sort (thank god). Yesterday? I was told we were going to have a “meeting” with a customer today to give a progress report on a job I’ve been doing.
(cue anxiety attack….NOW!)
I showered this morning (I know!) and wore nice clothes and brought a jacket to wear to avoid any viewing of my arm tattoo which stays mostly hidden under short-sleeves but not completely. I spent some time this morning cleaning my office since I figured I’d have to show the progress on my computer since it’s my project. I took goofy things off my bulletin board and tried to make my surroundings a bit more professional looking. I brushed my teeth and was ready to go at meeting time.
Then, I went in to check with my boss and said something nonchalantly like, “How is this progress report going to work?” He casually said, “Eh - I guess I’ll call him in the meeting room and we’ll just teleconference from there…”
HUH?
Turns out? This customer is elsewhere in the country and the organization he is associated with is not even in this state, much less this city. I’m officially a moron who was almost very embarrassed by asking my boss when this customer would be here and should I move more chairs into my office? This is why they keep me locked up in the back office, when it comes to human interaction? I’m a little inept. How did I not even realize all this time that this customer is out of state? Because I’m a moron evidently.
But I’m a well-dressed moron with a clean office.
Yeah, the whole client interaction angle apparently involves a lot of time in bustling metropolises like Vicksburg, Miss., where my husband seems to have to go like once a week. Sigh, I can’t sleep worth a crap when he’s out of town. Hey, at least you got a shower out of it!
I am so happy to know that you brushed your teeth.
(hey, it could have been a video conference, ya know)
Welcome to the world of the conference call. “Status Updates” seem to rarely take place “face to face” any longer.
Sorry you felt like a moron, but as you say, you’re a well dressed moron with a clean office.
I used to freak out if I had to deal with a client, too, especially since they inevitably came while I was eating lunch at my desk, and I was always convinced I’d have something in my teeth.
The thing is, though, that had you just freestyled it and gone in all tatts and goofiness I GUARANTEE YOU that that out-of-stater would have flown in for a face-to-face meeting. Murphy’s Law, or somebody’s law.
You’re always well-dressed when you wear a smile.
I would not feel like a moron if I were you. Since you don’t interact with them on a regular basis, how would you have known? It’s up to the Boss man to keep you in the loop. But, just to let you know, I would have done the same thing…..And I think you look absolutely lovely today……