Sacramento Surveyors Visit the NGS Airborne Gravimeter - CLSA

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I don't know of many engineers involved with organizations
other than engineering-/surveying-related organizations.
A few belong to the local chamber of commerce but
I don’t think that these few adequately represent us, the
Professional Land Surveyors of California. More importantly,
every child knows what engineers do because their
teachers and parents tell them. And how do the teachers
and parents know? Engineers, and architects for that matter,
are everywhere in the media, whether the silver-screen,
television, or magazines. With those other disciplines so
prevalent, I believe we too should endeavor to have the
public to perceive us as the professionals we are.
Looks Can Kill
From my earliest days, I remember my parents and
teachers always talking about first impressions. Having
gone to a private school with uniforms strictly enforced, I
was up early ironing my shirts by the seventh grade. By the
ninth grade I was attending a public high school where the
girls wore make-up and short skirts, the guys had shaggy
hair and un-tucked t-shirts, and I tried to fit in. Having gone
through my own adolescent growing pains, I can attest to
Spring 2011
the fact that some people make broad and wild assumptions
on a person’s appearance. Your first impression upon
them can leave them with doubts about the quality of work
you do.
It was 1988 and my hair was long; not that wimpy
shoulder-length Fabio hair but the kind that hangs down to
the belt and looks great on stage. I was in a rock band and
having a great time. I was also 15 and very naïve. I think
many of us have been there at one time or another. I was 22
when I cut my hair and I witnessed within an hour, a significant
change in the way people treated me. I realized people
had been overtly cautious around me. Although I can
look back on it with humor, I was terribly upset at the time
to see just how unfairly I thought people had treated me.
Back then I was selling a rock-n-roll image.
These days, I’m selling confidence, trust, and integrity.
I want my clients to believe that they have hired the very
finest professional available. On most days that I’m in the
office, you will find me wearing a suit. In the field, I wear a
clean company shirt and clean blue jeans, free from wholes
or stains. I am not trying to look cool; I’m trying to look like
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