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January 11, 2020 Big Fish in a Small Pond

PROMPT January 11th ▼

Do you tend to be skeptical or trusting when meeting new people? Is your first impression of someone generally accurate, or does their true character surprise you?

Because of my agency, I meet new people all of the time. I think I am a good judge of character. I'm pretty straight and open with people and I expect them to be the same with me.

I am a longterm, businesswoman in a small town. It has been suggested that someone could address an envelope with just my name and the town's zip code, and the envelope would be delivered to me. My name appears in big letters in front of my office on the 2 lane highway that runs through the middle of town. People tend to know who I am, prior to my meeting them.

I recently was told by someone I just met, "you are famous, everyone knows who you are." I'm not famous and not everyone knows who I am, but my name is known in a very small community and I have served that community through my business, through my church and various service organizations over many, many years. Most often in leadership roles. I have earned a reputation that I'm proud of. I have status in the community and as a professional, I speak from a position of authority. Consequently, when I meet someone new, they are usually putting their best foot forward. I take each person at face value until they show me otherwise.

I tend to be a one on one person. I actually feel uncomfortable in large gatherings but I don't avoid them. I just find somebody who looks like I feel and spend some time getting to know them. Like I said, one on one, even in a crowd. Everybody has a unique story.