Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2009-02-21 07:40:45 - Graham Ellis
I'm not sure if "why do you have a ponytail" is a question about a course or about a subject we teach ... actually it's rather personal... but it's a good question and I have chosen to answer in this case. Here are three possible answers for the beard - and - ponytail question. Which do you think it is?
a) I like it. I feel comfortable with it, and I have chosen it for that reason.
b) It's easily maintained. No need to be rushing to the barber's shop every few weeks, nor to be shaving on a daily basis ... and there's something exhilarating about trimming one's beard that you don't get from shaving.
c) It's a career choice. I used to train under contract for another company, and jobs were allocated by the "buggin's turn" (the selection of a trainer by rotation) principle unless one particular trainer was asked for. Now I got good reviews, and I wanted repeat bookings (= a more consistent income flow!), so I took on a distinctive look so that people could ask for me by name ... or by distinctive looks.
The answer is that all three reasons apply. If I didn't like it, if it wasn't easily(ish!) maintained or was unpleasant to maintain, I wouldn't have it. However it still, years later, provides that slightly different look that helps me to stand out in a crowd and, with my various roles, that's no bad thing at times. Take last night, but that's another story ...
I'm not sure if "why do you have a ponytail" is a question about a course or about a subject we teach ... actually it's rather personal... but it's a good question and I have chosen to answer in this case. Here are three possible answers for the beard - and - ponytail question. Which do you think it is?