Hair and Goatee

Several years ago, I had a boss tell me that I had little chance of getting promoted because of the way I looked. We were in his office, in a heated argument about my stagnant position at the company, and he shouted, "Look at you! Your head is shaved, you have a fucking goatee. You look like a skinhead. you want to get promoted? Look better!" I was astonished. If I knew it was that easy to get promoted, I told him, I would have become the stepford wife he wanted.

I went home that night, shaved my goatee, and proceeded to let my hair grow out. But it wasn't that easy. He never promoted me. In fact, he left the company later that year. He was asked to leave, actually. His choice was to be demoted or quit. His pride forced his decision.

A few months later, he came back. He asked for a territory. That lasted a whole three months. During that time, I became a vice president.

I saw him today at a trade show in the city. I haven't seen him in three years. I hold no animosity toward him. In fact, he was a pretty good boss despite that incident. He looked exactly like he always did. Power suit, power tie, slicked hair, parted down the side. I looked the same too. Shaved head and a goatee.

I'm doing just fine.