(This week’s post originally appeared on THWACK.com as a comment during the 2020 December Writing Challenge.)
On zoom, everybody lies. And on WebEx, RingCentral, teams, and Google hangouts (or whatever it’s called this week). You know it. I know it. We’ve all seen the evidence: a pristine bookshelf background from this angle, complete baby toy bedlam from the other. Or outfits saying “management material” above the belt, but crying “couch potato” from the waist down.
I’m not accusing anyone of deceitfulness or even prevarication. I’m acknowledging our innate urge to show things (and ourselves) in their best light.
But “the best light” isn’t always best. Sometimes “this is who I am today” is the most powerful thing we can share.
Today I’d like to be a positive role model, showing my workspace in all its come-as-you-are honesty. I think it says this about me:
My office isn’t neat, because I’m not. But It’s not dirty either. Everything is everywhere and “floor” is another term for “the biggest shelf in the room.” Like me, it’s functional. It’s familiar. The truth is if it was clean and pristine, I’d have problems getting anything done. We—my office and me—are unpretentious. Scattered. Filled with an eclectic range of topics, information, and interests. At least, it’s what I think it says. I’ll let you be the judge: