Thursday, September 06, 2007

Does a wonky eye = success?

Today I had a meeting with a man with a wonky eye.

I always find it so awkward when someone has a wonky eye. Like, where are you supposed to look? At the eye that's gone astray or the eye that's actually working (if they have such an eye)? Should you ask them how they got that way? or how they see things (do they have panoramic vision)? Do you assume they can see what you're doing at all times even if they appear to be staring off into the distance?

Quickly I focused on his one good eye, and reminded myself the whole meeting on to keep my eyes on his. But my mind couldn't stop wandering. Had he had such an eye his whole life? Did his eye ever frighten anyone, especially kids? Was his eye real? Did his eye ever get in the way of his professional career?

Well, apparently not, because this was one guy who was at the top of his game, being the director of sales for a very large company. Maybe his wonky eye actually helped him, as many people might let their guard down thanks to the curiosity surrounding his strange gaze...plus, with his increased peripheral vision, his ability to address a panel of people without ever having to turn his head is pretty impressive, wouldn't you say? ;)