Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Being available ~

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.