Has a Tattoo Ever Helped Your Career?
I would not say it has directly helped my career, per se, but it has contributed to a significant part of my personal growth, which indirectly affects my professional life. Let me take you back the context of how I got to where I am.
A Journey from Shyness to Confidence
During my final years of high school, I was particularly shy. The idea of social interaction filled me with discomfort, to the extent that I would walk with my head down to avoid any social engagement. It was a debilitating trait that I knew I had to change. Life, I reasoned, would only become more demanding as I moved forward. So, I took it upon myself to challenge this shyness and venture out. I joined extracurricular activities and started to work on my social skills.
Challenging Shyness in College
When I entered college, I had a renewed sense of purpose. I made an attempt to get outside my comfort zone, even though there were many failures along the way. I started to lead discussions in group projects and class lectures. As a marketing major, I saw these exercises not only as a way to enhance my professional skills but also as a means of personal growth. The idea of obtaining my tuition's worth was a driving force.
Overcoming Shyness and Gifting a Tattoo
Graduation brought me to my next milestone—a decision to gift myself tattoo sleeves. These pieces of art had always fascinated me, but I was too shy about what others might think. Each tattoo represents a sentiment in my life, and perhaps it was also a subconscious decision to boost my confidence in selling my skills and capabilities in the job market and in personal endeavors.
The Role of Tattoos in Career Development
Fast forward to my current career in sales, I face numerous challenges, such as establishing buy-in from multiple stakeholders, driving influence among various personalities, and balancing relationships. Emotional quotient (EQ) skills, in the face of tactical initiatives, are just as important and necessary. However, these skills can be the hardest to hone.
Striking Up Conversations
My tattoos have become conversation starters in both my professional and personal life, forcing me to become more comfortable talking to strangers at any moment. They have also allowed me to engage more deeply with people within my social circle, establishing meaningful relationships. All this has driven me to maximize the output of my work.
With over 20 tattoos, I approached my body art with the theme of duality. On the left side of my body, I have a panther symbolizing violence, Medusa symbolizing lust and wrath, Kali representing destruction and new beginnings, Aphrodite standing for narcissism, Cleopatra representing grandiosity, a Henya mask symbolizing jealousy, and Ganesh removing these obstacles. On the right side, I have a shark within a rose, a Buddha to commemorate mindfulness, Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity and good fortune, and a lion to symbolize wisdom. Cupid represents love, and a 1950's figure symbolizes Danny from Grease in honor of my late mother's obsession with the movie. In the center of my body, the Creation of Adam and a lotus symbolize the coming together of duality, Nirvana, and the underworld, respectively.