While driving I listened to a talk show on radio. The discussion was about professional attire. You may remember when you could actually identify people in the jobs they do. It used to be that doctors wore those long white coats, nurses had while uniforms and wore a hat, dentist were identifiable and even barbers had professional attire.
Not today. It would be hard to tell a drug dealer from a real pharmacist. People in offices often look like they just came from a softball game - and they lost.
When I worked in radio, I had to wear a coat and tie - on the radio. No one could see me, but it was the accepted attire. In sales, people dressed the part. I worked nearly 30 years for a large corporation and it was in the last few years that we didn’t have to have a coat and tie, although I did most of the time.
Casual Friday evolved into rumbled Monday and everything in the middle was often a little too relaxed.
As discussed on the radio program, the idea of taking pride in one’s appearance as an act of professionalism is gone. Naturally, the argument came up from callers that so long as they did their job, what did it matter how they dressed. Well, folks, when you lose your pride in your appearance, you lose more than that.
Most people today go to church services dressed like they going to the lake or are working on a car. What’s wrong with that? If you have to ask, there is no need to respond.
What if our police, fire fighters and military decided to have casual Friday? How much respect would you give to a senator or congressman or president that showed up for work in cut-offs and a tee shirt?
I have never been any where that I was over dressed. Sure it took me a few minutes more to put on an ironed shirt and tie, but if I got somewhere that was casual, I could always take off the tie.
Just a rambling about what happened to professional pride.
I suppose everyone just wants to look like me, now that I’m retired.
PMO
©2011
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