Gray Hair vs. Spiky Hair

Do you have gray hair, spiky hair, or like me, increasingly no hair?

My wife reminded me not long ago that there was a time in my career when I lamented that I didn’t have “enough gray hair” to be taken seriously when working with planned giving prospects. I remember having that concern, but looking back, I’m not sure that my brown hair had much to do with it.

What I realize now was that my personal maturity most likely held me back, not the outward sign of that maturity — my hair color.

So I challenge you to ask yourself: Am I mature enough for the job I want?

When I say “maturity” it’s not a code-word for “old,” but a statement about one’s “settled-ness” regardless of one’s age. Are you a little less emotional? Do you make decisions with detachment? Are you patient with those who challenge you?

Yes, age helps in the maturity process. After all, much of what we think of as “maturity” is a reaction to what we call “hard knocks,” and a lot of hard knocks get collected over time. But time is not determinant. I know a few very mature 25 year olds and many immature 55 year olds.

So when you when you look in the mirror, do you see the hair of the maturity under it?