First Day

Today was a good first day.

I remember going over a few pointers on the train ride this morning. Behind my steel gray Ray-Bans, I mentally chanted a mantra, "Keep your mouth shut, Monkey. Keep your mouth shut." See, I have a tendency to passively come across like a know-it-all, a virtue I am all too aware of yet don't like to admit. It's plagued me since I was in high school. I've always felt like I had something to prove. That I wanted to be the best.

Today was no different. I found myself chanting today (in my mind!) because I was wisely advised by my friend and ex-coworker, Pinchie, to do so a few weeks ago, after the assuage of a few well-placed beers. She assured me it was for my own good and that I should tone down my know-it-all-ness.

I figured I was doing pretty well. All day long I listened intently to my managers and new co-workers. I said nothing, aside from a few friendly (read: corny) jokes. I did a lot of nodding and question-asking (two other virtues I am proud of, as they tend to soften the know-it-all in me.)

I had been stepping away from customers all day long, allowing other people to sell and had decidedly taken a more observatory route. Things were going smoothly.

Then it happened.

I helped a couple of ladies in need of a dress. I was showing the daughter a few pieces. All of a sudden, my instinct took over and I was suddenly selling to her mother and the girl. The next thing I knew I had two customers instead of just one and it turned into a pretty nice sale. Not bad for a first day.

I thought I was going to get reamed. Mostly because it seemed like I was supposed to be "hanging back" for most of the day. Partly because I worked without any real coaching. And that part of me that took over was a little bit of the know-it-all. Thankfully nothing happened. No harsh words came to pass.

But I thought back to my interview with my (now) managers. They wanted someone to shake things up, to hit the ground running. I told them I was their man.

Nothing wrong with keeping one's word.