Written By: Lauren Howard
I wear leggings every single day.
I don't remember the last in-person meeting that I went to.
I don't even have most of my business clothing anymore because it was untouched in my closet for so long.
I leave my house, like, once a week, and it’s usually to get takeout.
I have a pretty big potty mouth, and I speak fluent sarcasm.
I have a bust of Ron Burgundy on my desk with figures of all of The Golden Girls. My office walls feature a picture of RBG, a West Wing quote, and a line from Hey Jude.
I dream of having purple hair.
I hire people that I have known for a few hours because I can just tell that they’re the right person for the job.
Sometimes I work with a child on my lap or under my feet. Sometimes with a dog on my toes. Sometimes while jamming to a 90s boy band playlist.
I am as self-deprecating and disarming with clients as I am with friends. It’s kind of my thing.
I am all of those quirky things, and I am still professional.
Are you capable of doing the job? Do you get the job done? Do you center kindness and effectiveness in your communication with others?
Congratulations. You’re professional.
I don’t care what color your hair is or how pressed your clothes are or how high brow your musical tastes are.
If you do the work well, you’re a professional. If you center empathy and kindness with your ability to do the work well, you're professional.
We’re done believing that you need a suit, tie, shiny shoes, boring briefcase, monotone delivery, and slicked-back hair to be professional.
Strict dress codes (for anything other than safety) and the like are inherently designed to disenfranchise people who aren’t 45-year-old, rich, white males.
We’re not here for that.
Don't wear flip flops in a professional kitchen, but I could not care less what you wear to an office. Or if you go to an office.
Show me that you know what you’re doing. That’s literally all I care about.
Founder & CEO at elletwo