What Impression Do You Make?

A couple of days ago, I sent my manuscript back to the publisher with the requested changes. I was glad to see the changes needed, because I knew I had lost my objectivity since I'd worked on it for so long.

Then, I received an email Thursday that left me smiling. My publisher said, "You've been very good about working with us, and I appreciate that."

Isn't that wonderful? I have tried hard to come across as a professional. I don't know how often I actually achieve that position, but apparently here, with my publisher, I have a great reputation.

Reputation is important. It can make or break you not just in the writing world, but your personal world as well. The publishing world is relatively small, and editors talk to each other. If you come across as less than professional, as a pain in the neck, so to speak, you will pass on that reputation.

I know that I have one person who wants to be interviewed on my blog that has dragged a less than sterling reputation around with her. Because of this, I do not plan to interview her on my blog.

What can you do about a poor reputation? Well, it's never too late to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and forge ahead. It will take some time before others will view you as a professional, or not.

Take me, for example. I take meds for a medical condition that I have. One of the side effects of the meds is that my long term memory is affected. As such, if I don't print out every correspondence with folks about what I receive from them, or they receive from me, I come across looking like a buffoon. And, frankly, I don't even remember all the times I have corresponded and can't find the emails to those individuals, so I still come out looking a bit less than rosy.

Of course, I could lament my position, and let it get me down, or I can do what I strive to do: try to come across as more of a professional. I also work hard on becoming more organized so that dropping the ball happens less and less often.

So, what's your reputation? What sort of impression have you made on your colleagues and in the writing world? If it's less than sterling, don't give up. Strive to become more professional and folks will begin to see you that way.