Shoe shine

Today I did something I haven’t done for a long time. I polished my shoes.

I know it was a long time because the polish had dried up in its tins. Instead of being creamy and spreadable it was all dry and cracked like a dried up river bed. Apparently Cherry Polish, the people who make these things have given up. Shoe shining is just not a thing now.

When I first started with Guerrilla Working seven years ago, I would polish my shoes religiously, the black and the brown. I even have separate brushes and a box in which to keep them all neat and tidy. You see, every day was an interview day and I would often remind myself that you only have one chance to make a first impression. It’s the same reason you will see me wearing a tie. You can always take these things off but…

When I look around, nobody wears shoes anymore. Nearly everyone is in trainers or some other sportswear, even flip flops perhaps. The times have really changed. Is this another fallout from COVID?

Why today then? Why of all days did I think to polish my shoes? It’s quite simple really. I had a couple of meetings that were important to me and I wanted to feel confident. Being clean and tidy helps me feel more confident and that includes having clean shoes. I know it’s a me thing as plenty of people come across as very confident, even in their casual clothes. Perhaps they are not and we will never know.

These days, is it right to judge a book by the cover? Should I worry less about appearance over substance? Perhaps yes, yet humans are judgemental. They sum you up in an instant and it is better to start with a good impression and work down rather than the other way. I am convinced that work is a performance art and how I feel about myself will go a long way to my success or otherwise. At least, if things don’t go right I can’t blame my clothing.

The funny thing is that, in my collared shirt, tie and shiny shoes I stand out from the crowd. I am the rebel now.

Oh, I also sewed a seam on a shirt that had come away.