Sometimes I look back on the emails I wrote and the things I've done to get started and I feel so foolish. The reason is CRAP: Chronic Recurring Attempts to Appear Professional.
When emailing health professionals to introduce myself and when communicating with the Doctor I eventually began working with, sometimes I would word things in a way so that I would sound like I was totally serious about work and very professional.
Often when I tried to sound a certain way, I came across as arrogant...I can think of no better word. In one instance I made it sound like I was putting down another's profession.
The Doctor and I were emailing about what type of services I would be using. He explained that this setting would not be the kind of setting for spa-type massage but the more medical side of things. I wanted to assure him that I understood and I wanted to recommend myself for the Chiropractor establishment. I told the Doctor that I wasn't the sort of massage therapist that does "Floo-floo" stuff. This was the word my teachers at school had used to describe spa-type modalities in comparison to therapeutic modalities.
The way I said this made it sound like a put-down to those who did spa stuff.
I don't mind spa stuff, I think it's fun, but I pretended to despise it in order to appear serious about the job I was applying for. My behavior was a load of CRAP.
Another story: A friend of mine, Kat, is a professional actress and has been for several years.
She is a bubbly, friendly gal and is always smiling. She's a good actress and loves to portray, serious, dramatic roles.
Her agent finds jobs for her. One in particular was a short film and seemed like a promising gig. Throughout the first few interviews and rehearsals with the director, Kat told me about how arrogant his attitude seemed. He would talk down to her and tell her that his studio was a "very professional" one and you "have to be professional" as if she was some kid being too immature. She hadn't done anything unprofessional, she had only been herself.
The director was bossy and controlling. Kat said he was probably the worst director she had worked with. Kat looked him up online and found videos he had done and his website.
What we found out in his videos explained everything. I recognized it because of how I had been in the past. It really does "take one, to know one".
Kat's director was 18 years old. Kat was 23. He was suffering from Chronic Recurring Attempts to Appear Professional. His behavior was a load of CRAP.
He was trying to "make it" in show business by being a bull, by putting off a persona of false confidence and false leadership.
I have often been annoyed by how much we misunderstand the meanings of maturity and professionalism. I almost despise these terms. I've had people look at me in disgust because they thought they were "more mature" than me. Maybe they were, but I got the impression that maturity meant being serious, judge-mental and rude.
A very good book called "How to Win Friends and Influence People" has wise words that seem to contradict most of our ideas of "professionalism" and "maturity".
I've drawn my own conclusion. I believe that when people have spoken on maturity and professionalism, it has been feeble attempts to a different end. They want to be successful and they're going about it the wrong way.
I believe that in order to achieve what you really want you have to respect and genuinely care about others and give little thought to what they think about you. Do what you love and always stay teachable: no matter what you know, always be open to input even from someone you consider to be on a "lower level" of achievement than you. Be honest about your shortcomings but don't let them stop you from moving forward. And please, don't be like me, don't be full of CRAP.
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