I don’t make a good first impression. In fact I tend not to even be noticed in the beginning. I am quiet and unassuming, ordinary looking, someone who blends in with a crowd. I don’t do well in job interviews but after someone risks hiring me I rise to the top. It’s always been that way with me. The charisma gene will not be found in my DNA but I have an overabundance of determination that has helped me to succeed throughout my lifetime.
I get lost in a crowd. It’s unlikely that anyone would notice me. I laughed recently when my father-in-law wanted to know who the tall beautiful blonde woman was at my brother’s birthday party. I did not know her name but even I could not help but take note of her. Everyone else was mostly like me, just one more face that seemed to be unimportant. The truth is that I like being this way. I don’t enjoy drawing attention to myself. I prefer being the observer rather than the center but there are times when it would be nice just to be a bit more memorable.
When I entered high school the principal cautioned me and my mother as to my placement in the advanced classes. It was his belief that they would be too much for me and that ultimately he would have to adjust the program of study to match my abilities. He mentioned that my former teachers had been instrumental in having me placed with the Honors students. They spoke of my work ethic and my willingness to tackle difficult situations. They told him not to be fooled by outward appearances. Four years later I was still taking the advanced classes and I graduated at the top of my class.
Admittedly I probably worked harder than most of my classmates, but what is wrong with that? I readily take on challenges and often achieve things that seem to be beyond my natural abilities. I am incredibly shy but I have learned how to take a deep breath and dive into public speaking, debating, advocating for others. I may feel like jelly inside but somehow I find ways to hide my fears when the occasion requires me to reach deeply into my psyche and overcome all of the assumptions that I must surely be a little mouse.
I have never done particularly well in job interviews because of my low key personality. Unlike the blonde at my brother’s party I just don’t stand out. I often end up accepting jobs that are not particularly attractive to other applicants. I know that I need only get my foot in the door to weave my magic which generally consists of working longer and harder than anybody else. I am that person who is willing to come early, stay late, put in extra hours on the weekend, take work home. My efforts always get noticed and suddenly I become the golden girl, because I am earnestly committed to whatever I am supposed to be doing.
We all know of someone who seems to have an exceptional glow. When such individuals also work hard they rise to epic status. Almost as soon as former President Barack Obama stepped into the political realm there was something almost otherworldly about him. He was exciting, someone who seemed destined for greatness. He had also worked hard to get to that place and so he assumed the power of one of the most important people in the world. Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt had much the same ability to be instantly noticed and revered.
There have been other people who came to power quietly and became giants because of their character and strong wills. Abraham Lincoln was such a man. People would hardly have seen him as a future leader with his homely looks and his homespun background, but he had a way with words and a determination to work for the good of our country. A lesser soul might have bowed to the Confederacy and accepted the split in the country as an inevitability. Instead he fought against such a rift with a vigor that seemed to come from nowhere.
Most of us feel as though we are just cogs in a grand machine. Like ants we toil to build mounds and to survive. We are unknown faces, just one of millions. They key to being noticed and appreciated almost always boils down to how much effort we put into the things that we do. If we see ourselves as part of something important and we work to give our very best to the project or the team, we will surely find success and notice. We are ultimately judged by our devotion to a common cause. People value us when we first show how much we value them. We don’t have to be the life of a party to gain the affection of every participant. They will know and love someone who modestly checks on their welfare. The quiet unassuming person can make a difference one person, one task at a time.
I used to hire teachers. There were times when I saw a show pony and grabbed that person immediately. Other times I saw something more in an individual who more closely resembled a work horse. I knew that in the tough times they would join us in ploughing on through difficult times. I understood that we need both kinds of people and each has a purpose that makes him or her wonderful.
They say it takes all kinds. Perhaps that saying would be better if we realized we need all kinds. It is in its variety that the world is beautiful. We each have a twinkle. Some show it on the outside and others know they have it on the inside but just need an opportunity to let is shine through. We might want to get to know people better before we classify them one way or another. I’ve learned to watch for the hidden treasures in our midst.
All It Takes Is A Little Love 