Does your profession, skill set or talents help or hinder you in your transition.

[Ilsa]

I for one can definitely say that my skills and talents as a graphic designer and illustrator give me more confidence when it comes to my transformation. It helps with color schemes, a better fashion sense and when it comes to makeup a lot of patience.

How do you use your skills in making yourself gorgeous?:bighug:

[kimdl93]

I'm afraid that nothing in my professional skill set as an administrator equips me to be gorgeous...or even not frightening in appearance. I obviously set a lower goal...presentable, not gorgeous.

[Sarah Beth]

My skill set is no help what soever. May be one the reasons I am never satisfied with how I look.

[kayla316]

I think it would be a hindrance if I ever wanted to take this farther. Not to many furniture movers I've seen in heels. :)

[Sarina Curtis]

As a teacher and trainer my skill set does help some as I have to be able to change my posture and behavior to better suit the needs of the students and or trainees. Often behaving a little (or sometimes a lot) 'over-the-top' goes a long way in getting the kids to relax around a foreigner and enjoy the lesson. I found it also helps me to change my mind set when I come home and get into my comfy clothes.

[Jenni Yumiko]

I work from home so I can dress all day long without issue :-)

[Kris Avery]

I also work from home, so...yay

[Julie Denier]

I've always had a keen attention for detail ...

[Michaelasfun]

I built a ton of plastic and balsa models when I was young, then years went by, like they do..and now, those learned attributes like patience waiting for glue to set, or taking the time to get the parts painted just right, really carry over into the makeup realm!

[AletaHawk]

My old profession really hindered things. I was terrified of exploring who I was because it was such a male-dominated, intolerant industry. It's one of the reasons I got out.

[Adriana Moretti]

Like you I do design, and also work in the music side of things too...both markets are fairly open, and they def do help the transition, fashin wise, and even makeup wise ( painting lead me to design ) There was a time though ( only a few months) when i was jobless i took a job at a construction site, THAT diddnt help at all, infact I QUIT after a few weeks. I was miserable and it wasnt for me....so I can understand gals who work in those types of enviorments.

[suchacutie]

I'm a chemist, so the specifics of skin-care products became an instant fascination for me. It must be working as my wife has been commenting on the improvement of my look I both genders.

[Sarasometimes]

Not my current profession. Having been a hairdresser has obviously helped but now I in a situation similar to Aleta male-dominated, intolerant industry that I love doing (don't understand my co-worker but).
My last two professions fall inline with the extremes of masculinity and femininity within my brain.

Aleta, do you care to say what type of work you did?

[Lynn Marie]

Your subject line mentioned "transition", but your question seems to be about transformation. Transition in our neighborhood is one hell of a lot more than a transformation with a dress, hair, heels, and a little face paint. I've always been handy at fixing and modifying stuff. That skill works well for making apparel made for a woman look reasonably well on my less than shapely body. I can sew, paint, and use tools to style my hair to make a pretty reasonable transformation. I'd need a little more advanced skill set to effect a transition.

[BOBBI G.]

As Lynn mentioned, you started with transition. I am in my second year of transition, and at my age, I am happy to appear vertical. All I ever wanted from life is acceptance, and now I have it. I am a girl, becoming a woman. Will never make beauty status, but I'm still breathing.

Bobbi

[Krististeph]

mostly hinder: I repair electromechanical systems, teach electronics and industrial applications, industrial safety inspection. None of these are conducive to crossdressing on the job- it would be a hindrance at this point, even though it would be doable.

From my photo finishing and photography background, i learned a number of elements of style and visual balance, a few model posing tips, and familiarity with cameras so i can take a boatload of pix with the digital, and figure out which looks work for me.

I probably should have been a fashion designer, but I have always fixed things and taught others how to do the same... it's as much a part of me as CD is.

[Amanda M]

As a psychotherapist (as is my wife) = 100% yes.

[Teresa]

Isla,
Thirty years as a professional photographer has given me a great boost in knowing what to put together how to present well, what a difference makeup can have and how hair choice can change a persons face !
I also found there's no such thing as bad taste, if someone thought they looked great in certain clothing it was up to you to flatter them with it !

I remember a guy some years ago had a family portrait sitting , despite not being requested I always took combinations of parents and children separately, it always doubled their spend afterwards ! On this occasion the father wore a purple blazer ! When they viewed the pictures they made strange complaints ! By then I had enlarged pictures of his sons and a very attractive portrait of his wife on display ! They did admit they were lovely, the bottom line was they hated the purple jacket any picture the father was in was rejected, luckily I persuaded him to remove it half way through ! I bet that jacket went into the rubbish bin after that !!

[Vickie_CDTV]

Mine is obvious... I have a lot less body hair than I would have otherwise if I had a different profession.

[erickka]

Being upside down in the engine room of a cabin cruiser all covered in grease, certainly is not a place to be wearing a skirt and heels!

[Rogina B]

The commercial coatings that I apply to the boats that I build need to be thick to do their job...like my makeup! lol

[CarlaWestin]

Quite often my fem look turns out to be electrifying but, natural lighting is the best for photos. Whenever I'm in a large facility, I can spot a light out from a mile away and I always know where the restrooms are. The very male uniform I wear is completely opposite of the silky nightie I sleep in every night.

[insearchofme]

I am a semi retired strength coach, so it hinders me. I still love to straighten with the kids so I am not very femme.

[Ivy Lee]

I am Infantry in the Army so it is a constant Hindrance, working out without wantint to get too buff but still be strong, going out is always hard. I guess camo face paint helped with make up haha :P

[Katey888]

I'm quite a decent amateur sketch artist (pencil, pastels, etc.) and I'm sure this, along with being reasonably dexterous helps with the facial transformation and a steady hand is good for nail polish. Makeup can be quite artistic and I enjoy getting a new look right and producing something different...

I'm learning more about clothes, colours and outfits - I've picked up lots from here and blogs, although I'm not sure everything I read here I'd want to be too confident about following all the time... ;)

I don't believe my professional skills help as much as my amateur ones... at least when hi-tech product development becomes useful we might have some Stepford CDs around - but I get the feeling there might be some here already... :devil:

Katey x

[samantha rogers]

I was trained as and spent many years as a professional actor. One of my gfs on learning this, exclaimed "Oh, thats cheating!" Lol
And in some ways, yes, it has been a huge help. Makeup, though quite different for stage, has always been pretty familiar to me, and years of movement training make that aspect quite easy as well. Donning countless costumes from every historical period imaginable teaches one to find the movement patterns best suited to that dress and to be totally at ease within that mode. Moreover, a big part of acting is observation...watching how different people act, speak, and move. Also a valuable skill in learning how to "pass". So, in transformation, at least, the answer would be a resounding yes.
But in transition, if that really is part of the question, the answer is quite different, and the same set of skills that enable me to take on different roles easily has actually made locating an authentic "self" far more challenging. Knowing how to play a part is very tempting but totally wrong in regard to trying to find my own reality. But it is getting easier every day. :battingeyelashes::battingeyelashes:
Getting comfortable and happy in my own skin and as myself is the best thing that has ever happened to me.:o

[Judith96a]

Tee hee Erickka, I can just imagine that!
As for the original question...
Profession - I'm an engineer both by nature and by training so I'm always on the lookout for solutions that combine simplicity, elegance and effectiveness. The problems? How to hide arm/leg fur that must not be removed. How to make a rather tubby me appear to have a waist while retaining the ability to breathe! How to make a sows ear look like a silk purse using only makeup!

Skills & abilities - I'm the planner & suitcase-packer in our family - very handy when I need to get all Judith's stuff together in a hurry for a trip.

Oddities? I've never been any good with a paintbrush (art rather than decorating) yet I find that brushes are my tool of choice for applying makeup! Go figure!

[Bria]

As an engineer in the auto repair industry the answer is NO.

Hugs, Bria

[Debra Russell]

Yes .... I am a commercial artist, advertising..of sorts ........... makes color co-ordinating and make-up a lot easier........................ Debra

[Stephanie Julianna]

Although I am a nurse now the only help in that is that I work with woman and have close up insight into their styles in hair and make-up. However, in a previous life I was a cosmetic buyer for a large grocery/drug chain and was even sent to cometology classes by my boss. He felt I could not buy correctly if I did not know what and how women used make-up. I had been an amateur artist at the time and when I realized through my classes that make-up skills were similar to what I was applying to paper when doing a portrait it just became so much easier. I was in seventh heaven in those classes and was the only male. I have been applying those skills to this day. That was in 1980 and I have been passing in public ever since.

[Kate Simmons]

My greatest skill is my imagination. I use available resources to bring it to reality. :)

[AnneC]

My professional skills are no help. But I think I have a pretty good sense of imagination and I can see what looks good on a GG. I hope so anyway.

[Ressie]

I have some artistic skill since I have an ass. degree in graphic design. I'm good with colors and have the ability to hold an eyeline applicator steady. But, no, I'm not transitioning!