In the studio with Nicole Kelly

In the late 1990's, I was in the radio studio with Nicole Kelly early one evening. She had one of the very few true call-in rock music radio shows.  Most DJ's then (and even more so now) worked from a rigid play list put together by the music director for the station.  She had her regular fans who would call in requests every night or two.  Lots of others called more randomly.

The night I was in the studio, she was nursing a really bad cold and looked terrible all the time and sounded terrible except when she was on the air.  Then she would rise to the occasion, click the mike on and you would never know she was not feeling well.

I commented on her on-air persona and she replied:  "It is just a facade Dad.  They expect me to be well and happy.  It's who I am."

My oldest daughter, Laura, spent part of her life while in college as Nicole Kelly, a popular disk jockey on two different local radio stations.  

Shirlee was our Office Manager for 16 years.  She used to tell people to "answer the phone with a smile on your face.  They can tell on the other end."

I once knew a salesman for a major agricultural chemical distributor who always wore a tie.  (this was in the 1980's, when ties were often worn by all office workers, but not by people in Dick's position).  He explained that the company owner required all salesmen  to wear ties, because it "showed respect for the customer". 

Others can and do judge us by how we sound, look, and act.  Part of their judgement of our organization is from their judgement of us.