My new "visible" tattoo...

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I got a visible tattoo. In a true sexy thinker fashion, we flipped it so you could watch and so that those of you who thought I might cry could see how tough I was.

Afterward I had a few conversations that went something like this:

"Hey what did you do today?" - them

"I got a tattoo." - me

"Where?" - them

"On my forearm" - me

"Wow, you're brave." - them

"Why do you say that?" - me

"What will your clients think?" - them

"What if you decide to go back into the corporate world?" - them

"How are you going to hide it?" - them

"It looks like you drew it on with a marker." - Bill Campion

Listen. Carefully.

It's not about a tattoo.

It's 2010, it's about being able to be who you are.
The people you work for should judge you according to your results, your ideas and your talent. Nothing else.

If I'm not accepted in the workplace for a tattoo, I'm pretty certain there will be other more important parts of who I am that would not be accepted.

Look, sometimes we have to work a job we don't entirely like, but in this day in age, should we still have to work in places where we can't express ourselves and be who we are?

I've learned that only when you embrace your own authenticity, unapologetically, can you really explore your talents' potential. By being true to yourself you attract the kind of people in your life who share your values. Including employers and clients.

You do have a choice.

A special thank you to @kwoodpartners for helping me figure this out and to @nwalls for being my sidekick on this experience.

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Comment by Lance Ekum on May 20, 2010 at 5:41pm: Love the tattoo!! I have just recently been inked for the first time. The whole process has been a shifting of perceptions. What I have is deeply meaningful to me. While it is not normally visible, the process and meaning have me thinking about what might be next (and more visible).

Anyway, love what your tattoo says, and I'm sure it is very meaningful to you, too. And that's what matters. And yes - we are in an age where we should be comfortable expressing who we are - including ink on our bodies...

Comment by Rebecca Slosberg on May 12, 2010 at 11:50am: I love this! Embrace who you are! Be the change!

Comment by joanne tarzian on May 11, 2010 at 9:34pm: Wow this is so inspiring! I may have to get a tattoo- but more importantly- I couldn't agree more about being true to yourself especially in the workplace. It's a new world and we are doing business and working in ways we never would have imagined 10 years ago-even 5 years ago! It's about time we have permission to be ourselves! Change is good!

Comment by Jill McFarland on May 11, 2010 at 11:12am: Amanda, you are the change. I love it! Thanks for doing what a lot of us want to do, giving us courage to hopefully do it. And I don't just mean getting a visible tattoo (that may be just me :-)) You are breaking the mold so better ones can be made. Thank you!