An Expert is a Man with a Briefcase from another State
Crazy as it may seem, family and home towns don't want you to change. They see you forever the kid they grew up with. Some home town folk can get down right hostile when you present your life gifts before them. Unless you make it on, "Dancing with the Stars", or "American Idol," family or home town folk see those they know well as just one of them. It was my mother who laughingly told me of this phenomenon as, “An expert is a man with a briefcase from another town”.
WHAT HOME TOWN FOLK WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY
Garrison Keeler of “Lake Woebegone” tells the story of when home town folk used to ask him what he was doing with his life, he would list all his famous accomplishments. The response was a quick "Well good for you. Got to go now." Finally Keeler figured out a better reply was "Well, been helping my brother fix up the garage. Quite a job." To this a slap on the back, warm smile and conversation bloomed. It was something they could relate to. Family and home towners don't want to hear how we are doing better then they are.
WE LOSE OUR MYSTIQUE
It seems when people get too close to us, we lose our mystique. It is human nature to trust a stranger’s skills more then someone we know from the inside out. Be it a band, psychic reader, retailer, lawyer or artist, if people don’t really know who they are doing business with they are more likely to give them celebrity status.
THE UN-GLORY PROCESS
Our families and home town folk remember our Un-Glory. They saw our tears, our frustrations, our melt downs and accomplishments. They saw our marriages, children, divorces and jobs. It is very likely Jesus’ home town folk saw only a snot nose kid when he proclaimed he was Son of God. In this same way, as a professional you will often find it hard to be recognized as more then "just familly" dispite the professional excellence you may own.
Often, those closest to you will go out of their way to make it a point to keep you modest. This can be a real issue for some kids that spend their entire lives trying to get their parents to say “I am so proud of you! You are a winner.” Sadly, they may never hear it.
DO NOT ASCEND ON CLOUDS BEFORE FAMILY
It’s a good idea not to proclaim you are a Professional to your loved ones. They may see you as ascending yourself on clouds. Sisters and brothers will be damned if they are going to elevate your status higher then that snot nosed kid you used to be. You are very likely to get a smirk, eye roll or polite smile. Save your anger. When loved ones or friends sneak out of town to pay someone else for doing the same exact business you do, remember the motto my mother told me: “An expert is a man with a briefcase from another town.”
DON'T TURN CLIENTS INTO FAMILY
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Keep personal information about your own life brief with clients.
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Remember telling your clients your personal life details, may turn you in to "family".
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Don’t be surprised if after an especially close bonding confession with a client they start to distance from you. Keep your mystique.
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Your client may be very grateful for your friendly banter, but really did not need to hear that much about you.
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Remember to keep your mystique.
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Celebrities say very little about their personal life, and when they do its often guarded information; the rest comes from tabloids.
Remember: "An expert is a man with a briefcase from another town."