Your Career and You: “Bottom line…lose the ’tude”

I was watching an episode of “The Middle” recently (okay, Curry CollegeCOM/PR students and CCPRSA members…don’t judge!) in which Axl proclaims that of course he’s going to get the job he’s going to interview for…he has amazing hair! Needless to say, the hiring manager didn’t notice this one detail and Axl didn’t get the job.

The very next morning, I had what I term a “deep philosophical discussion” with the owner/manager of the apartment complex where I’ve lived for more than 20 years. I was merely reporting a leaking faucet that I’d like repaired. He proceeded to lecture me on the “proper” way to report these issues…NOT through the convenient, staffed, knowledgeable on-site management office BUT through an out-sourced, anonymous answering service. His attitude was clearly “you are an inconvenience to me.”

These two “lessons,” one real, one not, triggered a memory from a quarter-century ago when…