Perceptions of Size, Career Advancement

Off Topic
61

[quote]twiceborn wrote:

Actually, I’d disagree with that. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m a mean, ugly biker lookin’ mother on top of things, but people do seem to have an actual fear response to the size. It was more prominent when I was larger, but there nonetheless. (I’m 6’1" and have been up to and over 300lbs, though recently dropped to 235.)

I’ve seen it quite a few times, a normal looking guy raises his voice and people will shrug it off. When I raise my voice people cower. People really do lock up like deer in headlights when they’re terrified. It’s an unmistakable thing when you see it. If they don’t know you, they’re also more apt to think that something will “set you off”. Where normally someone would just walk up and talk to you, people will use the buddy system or position themselves behind objects before doing so. Cops and security also get very nervous when they approach you for whatever reason, which is pretty funny to me.
[/quote]

Agreed. The look I see in people’s eyes and in their mannerisms is fear when at my heaviest body weight. In fact, I seem to get it more now after dropping weight. This is also that is hard to explain to someone else who hasn’t experienced it. I know most people just quickly leave if I ask to work in with them on an exercise…and that wouldn’t happen if I weighed 150lbs.

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[quote]Loudog75 wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]tmay11 wrote:

[quote]Mad HORSE wrote:
OK, I really have no business chiming in here since I’m way too small, but I do often get told that I look like I lift weights.

So… Doesn’t it depend more on the type of work than anything else? I would think in the case of a big guy owning a chain of restaurants, his size would be helpful. A bigger, more filled out dentist would be better than lean, aggresive looking one, and vice versa with the lawyer.

Like the guy who said he’d wear clothes that hide his size for an interview. Doesn’t that make more sense for an office gig than manual labor?[/quote]

Definitely, which is why I specifically mentioned that I plan to get into finance/accounting. When I was doing construction work I was up around 210lbs- I didn’t have a problem with it as it didn’t hold me back at all. Now that I’m in school, trying to network, get internships etc I feel like being "that big guy " can really be in detriment to your success. [/quote]

That is where your own character and personality come in. You are talking about networking, which is nothing more than getting to know people and having them know you for career advancement. Being more muscular can’t hold you back unless you really are openly compensating for something and they can smell it on you.

being smaller won’t make that work for you better. It just means you stand out less.

I see tons of business people around Houston lately in that “25-40” age group who clearly workout regularly even if they aren’t huge…mostly because those are the types getting the jobs…young athletic and in shape.

Look at American Psycho. There is a reason they had him THAT focused on his looks.[/quote]

In the business world, your size has nothing to do with your success (unless you believe it does). Your personality, work ethic and character are what matter most.
[/quote]

I wouldn’t say that. Hell, your age counts along with everything else. Mind you, I said that the guys I am speaking of clearly lift but are NOT very big. They fit the image of a “lean athletic” type…and yes, they seem to hire them over the out of shape people who don’t give a shit because I am seeing way too many like that lately.

63

[quote]Loudog75 wrote:
you need to ask yourself a question - Would you really want to work underneath someone that shallow?[/quote]

It’s more like: would you want to work? period.

64

[quote]Varitek86 wrote:

[quote]Nards wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]Stern wrote:

[quote]Nards wrote:

[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
I’ve had nothing but positive reactions to my size. Your attitude and charisma are much more important than the size of your biceps, or even your ability as a professional. If people generally react positively to you, then you will not have any issues.[/quote]

This is true.
I’m not kidding. I may be 245 to 250lbs at 6 feet but because of my winning smile I seem to be seen as a loveable oaf. Really. Check my profile for pics.[/quote]

Pretty sure we don’t need to check your profile to know that you are a lovable oaf. =)

[/quote]

X2. Nards is like the forum’s teddy bear mascot. [/quote]

Thank you! [/quote]

I’ve never seen a teddy bear with calves that huge though. In fact, I’ve never seen a teddy bear with calves.[/quote]

Thanks! When you go home, there will be a nw plasma TV in your living room!

65

Reading this thread is depressing :confused:

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[quote]optheta wrote:
Reading this thread is depressing :/[/quote]

It shouldn’t. I see way more positives to standing out than negatives. If nothing else, if you know you stand out more, it really forces you to take full consideration of HOW you act in public. I do pretty well in public speaking now whereas I would have had issues with that as a kid. Any negative comments I have ever heard would be all of 5% of all of the comments I get…which does make the bad ones stand out in memory but they don’t count much.

I am friends with one guy who is 6’2" and 250lbs in med school in Galveston at the age of 22. t isn’t holding him back and he makes most here look like they don’t even train.

You shape your own life.

I have never been one to conform just for the sake of it.

67

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]optheta wrote:
Reading this thread is depressing :/[/quote]

It shouldn’t. I see way more positives to standing out than negatives. If nothing else, if you know you stand out more, it really forces you to take full consideration of HOW you act in public. I do pretty well in public speaking now whereas I would have had issues with that as a kid. Any negative comments I have ever heard would be all of 5% of all of the comments I get…which does make the bad ones stand out in memory but they don’t count much.

I am friends with one guy who is 6’2" and 250lbs in med school in Galveston at the age of 22. t isn’t holding him back and he makes most here look like they don’t even train.

You shape your own life.

I have never been one to conform just for the sake of it.[/quote]

I think X is bang on the money.

It is true that people pre judge you and form an opinion of you very early on, but JUST being big isn’t a negative thing.
Being 250LB’s with a shaved head and visible tattoos may well work against you in business, if only to a small degree (I’m not saying that someone with those things is less capable) but being a big guy alone is not a bad thing-especially if you are smartly dressed, clean shaven and have neat hair etc.

I’m about 220LB’s now, I’ve been 230, so not as big as some but my job involves meeting a lot of people and visiting their homes and I’ve never had any problems, people generally take to me well.

It’s important to be your own man in life…

68

If you have manners, a nice suit, a fat fade and a sweet pair of shoes you can be tatted up/shaved head/280 lbs/whatever, and as long as you are great at what you do, no one will really care.

I have seen senior management with dreadlocks and tattoos, and things are changing. Plus, the more you stick out (read: that does not mean obnoxious) the more you sell.

69

If you have manners, a nice suit, a fat fade and a sweet pair of shoes you can be tatted up/shaved head/280 lbs/whatever, and as long as you are great at what you do, no one will really care.

I have seen senior management with dreadlocks and tattoos, and things are changing. Plus, the more you stick out (read: that does not mean obnoxious) the more you sell.

70

Being who and what you want, especially in ways that will set you apart takes a certain amount of balls and that in itself will always attract respect. Getting noticed is usually a good thing and if you carry yourself well, with professionalism and charisma, being big is not going to get in the way of that and if anything it will earn you respect from people who understand hard work and dedication, even if they themselves are weekend marathon runners rather than bodybuilders. If you’re dealing with successful people you can bet they relate.

71

If “size” is all you bring with you then yes you will be harmed,I feel.

That’s why I advocate diversity of interests and hobbies.

It helps to have a musical instrument in your office even if you can’t play it well.it softens your image.

No one thinks negatively about a guy with an acoustic guitar. Lol

But really,if you want real size you’re going to have to learn to tone down your “aggressive” look.

Smile more
Wear odd colored shirts
Etc

Ultimately its performance though.

72

As a shaved head, 260+, tattooed powerlifter I have done ok in corporate America. Always wear clothes that fit (nothing too snug) and are professional, and always work hard and stay informed in my area of expertese. Occasionally I get comments about being kinda scary looking, lol, but professionalism and producing quality work makes these commentaries nonsensical.

I know a lot of PLers and BBers who are very successful in sales, engineering, IT, etc (read whatever their chosen field is). And I am talking guys in the 308 and SHW classes that total 2300+ or guys that compete NPC. If you’re 200lbs is going to make you self-conscious and uncomfortable, that is what will show and undermine you, not the size itself.

73

[quote]PeteS wrote:
If you’re 200lbs is going to make you self-conscious and uncomfortable, that is what will show and undermine you, not the size itself. [/quote]

Well said.

Confidence is what sells you more than anything…and the only person that can provide that is yourself. How big you are should do nothing but support how well you think of yourself and your abilities…not the other way around.

However, if we were to get into the discussion of how some jobs see competing in bodybuilding, we actually have examples like Branden Ray who apparently lost his job at CNN based on his exposure in bodybuilding (I don’t have any details on specifics only that he was fired after being promoted just the year previous I believe around the time he was being more featured in magazines).

High exposure in competitive bodybuilding could possibly hinder advancement because of the stigma attached.

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[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]PeteS wrote:
If you’re 200lbs is going to make you self-conscious and uncomfortable, that is what will show and undermine you, not the size itself. [/quote]

High exposure in competitive bodybuilding could possibly hinder advancement because of the stigma attached.

[/quote]

Interesting - I think that statement could make for a more interesting discussion as I think we all now agree that your attitude determines your altitude.

75

[quote]Professor X wrote:
High exposure in competitive bodybuilding could possibly hinder advancement because of the stigma attached.

[/quote]

It didn’t hurt Schwarzenegger. Quite the opposite.

Then again, he was an anomaly in his era.

76

I teach at a university and would not be considered big by many here, and definitely not tall (ID might think so), but there are not many professors I have seen on (any) campus with visible muscle, so in that I am unusual. Most of my students are about my height or taller. I have gotten comments from students that I appear big, as in I demand more space than my body needs.

It is weird but they stop away from me or make sure a desk/podium is between me or them. I am not described as scary, however. My point is that I think it is possible to ‘appear’ larger or smaller than your body. So, if you are scared of being to big, you might want to try ways of shrinking your space. Some people repel people, some draw them in - I do not think your body size actually matters as much as you think.

That said I have some really big (tall, muscular) cousins and their moms’ taught them to smile and be friendly so they would not scare people. So those who say it is how you present yourself (in my humble opinion) are on the right track.

77

[quote]Ct. Rockula wrote:
If “size” is all you bring with you then yes you will be harmed,I feel.

That’s why I advocate diversity of interests and hobbies.

It helps to have a musical instrument in your office even if you can’t play it well.it softens your image.

No one thinks negatively about a guy with an acoustic guitar. Lol

But really,if you want real size you’re going to have to learn to tone down your “aggressive” look.

Smile more
Wear odd colored shirts
Etc

Ultimately its performance though.

[/quote]

SMILE!

I know we have discussed this in terms of not being intimidating to the opposite sex… so true in work situations too.

78

Size means VERY little, eyes tell all, your confidence is in posture and swagger, if you don’t have what it takes it won’t matter if you are a mouse or a silverback gorilla. C Level executives can size you up in your first 10 words with out ever paying attention to your physical stature.

…and for the opposite sex, the smile disarms all. If you intimidate a female you suck as a man.

79

[quote]Hip Scar wrote:
If you intimidate a female you suck as a man.[/quote]

Well shit, a lot of people must suck then because I am pretty sure just about any guy walking anywhere near a woman who is walking home late by herself can and often will “intimidate” her.

80

This is about extreme hypertrophy in a corporate environment? I may not be allowed to chime in since I don’t have much firsthand experience on either account. But I have some firsthand observations. I’ve seen competitive bodybuilders and extremely muscular guys get treated vindictively and spitefully. And I know that advancement in a corporate environment means dealing with back-stabbing office politics. So I can see a big problem there.

However I’ve also seen big muscular guys become the office mascot because they’re so nice and such a great guys.