Thanks for the words of encouragement SE....now I'm wishing more and more I had just let my sides grow instead of trimming them off for the interview (and in some small way conforming to society).
started work a few days later and on day 1 not 3 hours into the 1st day i said screw it took of the tam the dreads spilled out to the ground (almost was a number of years back) just as the president of the company walks by..stops and just says "wow"
that was the only thing any employee ever said about them. but i had meetings all the time with politicians (like the 1st head of homeland security) finance leaders, ceos of multi miliion multi national orgs . deans of universities etc none said anything unless it was 'i love your hair, can i touch them)"
when i left the company it was time for them to make new corporate image promo materials, i was front center and above everyone else kinda the most prominent position this was used in calendars posters, mugs etc
we were a layed back office i could work from home when i had no meetings with the exuse my home pc was faster
the receptionist had big crystals through her gauged ears
the head of billing worked barefoot and would put her bare feet up on the table during meetings
i think only the president ever wore a tie or anything you'd normally consider office appropriate
we operated out of a large science center that had like 30-40 diferent companies and orgs some like the japan institute were ..well you know how conservative and traditional japan can be . but every 1 of the offices in the building used me for tech support so i spent time in every 1 of the offices working with everyone in the building..
dreads and beard were never any issue with anyone
oh yea we ware also partnered with the local pbs station so i was often in their studios ..doing tech support for them
dreads and beard never factored into anything ever
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1