"Guy in a Tie"

Way back in 1995, I attended a halloween party at the home of my friend and classmate, Phil Valdez. I didn't really have a costume in mind so I threw on a tie and penciled in a fake moustache. Not sure what my motive was, but I attended his party as "guy in a tie". Pretty lame, but it worked.

Well, every day is Halloween now. I'm required to sport a tie 5 days a week now. So far, walking through downtown Seattle at mid-day, I've heard lots of "nice tie!" comments, and feel like I have some sort of aura of higher respect (okay, I'm deslusional). However, in spite of all the fears and insecurities, it's not all that bad. The folks at Ramp said things like "I'd never wear a tie! I'd quit!". Whatever. I'll wear a clown suit to work each day if the money's green enough.

Anyway, it's not all that bad. One thing I find is that it levels the playing field quite a bit. At previous jobs, the person of authority was always he or she who was not dressed in cutoffs and sandals. Now, everyone is dressed at pretty much the same level. This threw me for a loop on my first day. One of the guys who interviewed me seemed to have that air of high authority... older, looked more distinguished. Well, I stopped by his cubicle the other day and he and his cube mate were swapping comic books and goofing off on the company clock.

Very refreshing to know that you can put lipstick on a pig and it's still a pig. You can throw ties on your employees, but it's still the same circus. So come on y'all! There's nothing to be afraid of! Throw off those sandals and cutoffs and slip into a tie and some slacks! It's going to be an outstanding day!