So what if you're a ?
I was at this party last weekend. There were a lot of people, more than 3/4 i barely knew. So it was a minglefest. I happened to be somewhat early so I got to exchange pleasantrieswith the earlier people so that when the new people came I had time to chat with them too.
There was this group that I was mingling with after dinner. We were on the topic of career success and hardships. Then we came to the topic of lawyers -- more particularlytheir general attitude towards other professions. Apparently, there wasn't a lawyer present so yeah I guess that cemented the topic. The main premise was that lawyers are the most elitistic of professionals. Medical doctors only come second. I believe this to be true, as I know people who are doctors and they're quite far from the ellitistic lot people perceive them to be.However there are some medical professionals which I feel are bad examples to their juniors as they will try to diagnose a patient which will make them pay a lot when a patient is notthat sick and a cheaper just-as-effective means of medication is feasible.
Anyway, back to the lawyer perception. One of the people in my table claim that lawyersfeel that they have this ultimate "I am always correct" aura and that if you try to arguewith them, they will shove their point up your ass. (Wow I should have been a lawyer hehe)While I find this generalization biased, I did not wish to debate about what the person at the table said since I was only an observer for that topic. The reason for lawyers having this "elite" aura is because they passed the bar exam. It is said that THE bar exam is the most difficult exam ever in a profession to take. Yes, even the medical licensure exam only ranks like.. second. Given that it is -- I think that passing the bar exam doesn't earn youthe right to push people around, and yes, much less -- command respect.
While I don't have anything against being and aspiring to be elite -- I believe that the real elite have mastered the best ways of earning respect. You do not command respect. You earn it by bowing your will and listening as much as exchanging opinions with people. I think respect should never be commanded at all--It should be earned. Be it a supervisor, be it a parent, be it a child, be it your driver,be it your yaya who washes your clothes, be it the general manager, be it your friend.
Sure I'll be a lawyer and I'll make like what.. 60 to 80 thousand bucks per case or so.. but as long as I am an ass with a smartmouth that will not respect any otherperson's reason, I don't think I'll make any good sales or referrals that way. No one will hire me. I have 3 friends and 1 relative who are practicing lawyers and minus the premise that they are my friends/relatives, I see them from a 3rd-person view as uber elitists. I do not feel comfortable talking to them about anything because they'll always want the last word. And being the helpful friend that I am, I try to tell this to their faces in the most subtle manner, in the hope of making them improve; and in exception of my relative, I get the same reaction -- repulsive, inadmittant to error. I hope I'm just having a stroke of bad luch in thepeople I'm meeting, coz I have yet to meet a lawyer who is friendly enough to make you want to be friends with them while knowing how to listen to you.
Anyway, whatever your profession is, we are all "selling" something. Yes, you don't have to be in sales to do that. And with this business of "selling yourself" and your services, it is often gentleness and charisma that works you wonders.
Soon enough, I didn't realize that it was time way late so I had to go home already. I'll definitely attend another such party, as I really learned a lot of what people not my walk of life have to say about life and careers.
posted by Urban Warrior @ 2:10 AM
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