I tend to get asked for help when I'm in stores. I think it's because
I am one of the few people looking around at other people and have an
open and available demeanor, but sometimes I think it's because I look
older or more responsbile than those around me.
When I go to Lowe's I tend to make the mistake of wearing a red shirt.
That's the color that Lowe's employees tend to wear, and I think
that's the color of their aprons unless they changed them to blue. But
almost every time I would go in a Lowe's I would get asked by women
and men where something was. It got to a point where I decided not to
go to Lowe's for a while, and I've only been back once in the past
couple of years.
This happens in Home Depot, in Wal-Mart, in grocery stores, and other
places. Not so much in clothing stores, but I don't go to them very
often and now I usually go with my wife.
Recently I was sitting in a chair in the hallway of a college campus
building actively using my iPad and phone with ear buds on. A student
stopped and asked me if I had a key to the lab. I had to take an ear
bud out and ask her what she said, then chuckled and shook my head.
I guess I'm at that age and level of accomplishment where I seem to be
"in charge" even when I'm not. I must exude confidence and
availability, which cracks me up since from what I understand many
people think I'm too busy to talk with them.
Often I feel like I'm not even seen or thought of. But when I get
asked a question in a public location I realize I am not invisible and
that I am approachable and available.
Funny how that works.