I have many flaws, but perhaps the worst is my terrible memory for names.
And I'm not exaggerating. I can't tell you how many times someone I "know" comes up to me to start a conversation-- be it at the kid's school or at a party or in a store-- and I literally have no clue who they are.
Sadly, it's not just casual acquaintances either. We've become friendly with the parents (two men) of one of my son's friend's, and despite having spent time with them at their house and on several day trips I still always forget which one is John and which one is Matt. And now it's just too embrassing to ask. Not that I would remember even if they told me. My husband of course knows, and he's constantly reminding me, but the minute after he tells me I've promptly forgotten it again.
I've tried every trick in the book-- I repeat someone's name silently in my head when introduced to someone new, I try to pick some feature about them to help me remember. But no, nothing. I literally forget someone's name the very moment it's come out of their mouth.
This is an especially bad trait in my line of work, where relationship building and schmoozing clients is key. I've learned in meetings to surreptitiously make notes on my notepad to help me not embarrass myself. But no matter what I do, I can't seem to solve it.
There is one exception-- if the person is wearing a name tag. I'm a visual learner, and even have a photographic memory. So if I see something just once, it's stuck in my brain forever. So while I might not remember someone's name, I'll invariably remember what they were wearing, where we were standing when we were talking and who else was around at the time.
But until the day comes when I can insist that the world wear name tags, I'm stuck nodding my head and smiling and pretending I have a clue who you are. While in reality I'm just hoping I don't make too big of a fool of myself.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Take this job and shove it. Or not.
I was recently reminded of my 2 summers spent working at a local theme park when I was a teenager. I worked in a gift shop located just inside the park gates, which meant that we were not only the stop first thing in the morning for forgotten sunscreen, hats and fanny packs (this was the 80s), but also the last chance stop for exhausted parents to buy their screaming children a souvenir on their way to the parking lot. Yes, I had to wear a ridiculous outfit as my daily uniform, but the worst part of the job was the fact that (since it was a Paramount-owned park) the original car from Wayne's World was right outside our doors and it played Bohemian Rhapsody and top volume on a continual loop. Which might not seem too bad, except for when you realize that I was there for 8 hours at a time. To this day I can't hear that song without shuddering.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only side effect. I've never been able to look at theme parks in quite the same way since because I know too much. I know how they all have a huge problem with rats. And rat droppings. In food areas. Or just how little training the ride operators actually get. And even the major side perk-- unlimited free admission to the park-- wasn't much of a benefit when the last thing you wanted to do was to spend your off hours at your job.
I've had some other interesting jobs as well. My first-ever job for pay (aside from the occasional babysitting gig) was as a sales associate at the Gap when I was 15-years-old. To this day, I can fold t-shirts and sweaters like nobodies business-- all exactly the same size and without the folding board. Very handy.
There were others too...like a receptionist at an auto dealership when I was in college (great for doing homework), or working at the front desk of a hotel (hotel guests can be mean). And then of course there was the time in college when my roommate and I decided the most lucrative job would be becoming serial game show contestants. That's a story for another blog, but we appeared on them all. I have a collection of my lovely parting gifts.
The funny part is that I've worked in my chosen profession for 16 years now, and have been fairly successful, but my best work-related memories are all associated with these silly little one-off jobs from my youth. I can still tell the stories from those days with total recall. The pay was awful, the perks were few, but the memories are forever.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only side effect. I've never been able to look at theme parks in quite the same way since because I know too much. I know how they all have a huge problem with rats. And rat droppings. In food areas. Or just how little training the ride operators actually get. And even the major side perk-- unlimited free admission to the park-- wasn't much of a benefit when the last thing you wanted to do was to spend your off hours at your job.
I've had some other interesting jobs as well. My first-ever job for pay (aside from the occasional babysitting gig) was as a sales associate at the Gap when I was 15-years-old. To this day, I can fold t-shirts and sweaters like nobodies business-- all exactly the same size and without the folding board. Very handy.
There were others too...like a receptionist at an auto dealership when I was in college (great for doing homework), or working at the front desk of a hotel (hotel guests can be mean). And then of course there was the time in college when my roommate and I decided the most lucrative job would be becoming serial game show contestants. That's a story for another blog, but we appeared on them all. I have a collection of my lovely parting gifts.
The funny part is that I've worked in my chosen profession for 16 years now, and have been fairly successful, but my best work-related memories are all associated with these silly little one-off jobs from my youth. I can still tell the stories from those days with total recall. The pay was awful, the perks were few, but the memories are forever.
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