First Impressions

First impressions count and can make a big difference when it comes to going for a job interview but for me actions speak a lot louder than words. I have never been able to control what people think of me but I have sure learned not to judge a book by its cover over the years.

I remember when I worked my first snow season down in the Australian Alpine area. I showed up early and ended up working the first shift. Another casual worker showed up later and got to go up skiing. My first impression was this strong looking, six foot six bloke, in an expensive brand new ski jacket showing me a bronze medal from a race he had just done.

I laugh now as I got to the race the next day and got a gold medal with my beat up second hand skis and op shop cloths. The medals where just for participation. The ski instructor would set up a slalom race course then set a time. If you could get within 80% you got a small imitation gold medal, I can not remember the silver requirements and everyone else got bronze for just making it down. My fellow worker who had made a amazing first impression on me basically had nothing, I beat him and his fancy gear in every race we had all season and he was not that good at washing the dishes in the kitchen either.
I suppose this experience makes me think a lot deeper about my first impressions.