Suzanne F
10-30-2015, 03:04 AM
I previously shared that last week there had been a company meeting where the president announced my transition. I had not been nvited to attend. I thought I would go into the office the next day but I was asked to wait until there was an actual reason to come. I am an account manger and I work from home or in the field most days. I was not pleased but agreed. They said they didn't want it to be any big deal. Then on Thursday I met with 4 customers to inform them of my transition. I was asked to appear as male and my boss had to be present. Again, I wasn't that happy but agreed.
The first appointment went well. The buyer is a woman and she took the news lightly. Is that it? I said yes and she said great no problem. So we then had lunch with my second largest customer. The owner met us and was so sweet. He told me it was an upgrade! He was so supportive and let my boss know that his company would be totally supportive. I was just elated. I mean I play golf with this guy and it was just the best to be accepted. Next stop was a customer that had just promoted my contact so we met both her and the new buyer. It was very business like and they said they were supportive and wished me well. The last stop was the toughest. We met with the owner of a distribution company that was very loud until we got to the subject at hand. He tensed up but I assured him I wasp to the task and would continue to do a great job. I sensed he was nervous about their customers. I told him in the event that we encountered a non supportive customer we could switch reps for him. He thanked me for the direct talk and I think this soothed his fear. Done 4 up 4 down!
Turns out there must be someone looking over me. My long time friend and sponsor flew in last weekend. On Monday morning he went with me to my office in Sacramento. I had to pick up some samples for a customer and we drove to Sacramento. I dropped him off at Starbucks and drove over to the office. I called my best girl friend and said ok, it is getting ready to happen. She wished me well and I pulled into the parking lot. I almost pulled my wig off combing it! I said a quick prayer and headed for the door.
I have heard other women here talk about their first days and I wish I was eloquent enough to capture the moment. It was surreal. I walked though the office and said hi. The two women I am closest to were very sweet. No problem there! Then I spoke with the CFO and the Director of Operations. No big deal, one was kind of tense but it was ok. I tried to help him by just being low key and at ease. Then I went into the president's office and sat down. He was cordial but a little distant. However, it was ok. I then had a meeting with the sales director. He has been the most involved with my transition and has came along way. He had met me before as Suzanne and this time seems more at ease. I walked out the door a happy woman!
The next day I made my first calls as me to customers. The first was to drop off samples at the company where the owner had been tense. The receptionist who took the samples couldn't quite figure out how she recognized me. She had seen me as male just 4 days before. Then I stopped by the plant of the super supportive person I had met with. He had shared my news with the buyer, a good friend of mine who I have a great relationship with. She was elated. She grabbed me and hugged me and then said look how beautiful. She was just the best! She kept saying how proud she was and that anything I needed she would do for me. It was one of the best moments of this entire journey. There were two more stops, they were fine and I headed home.
I know it is not over. There are still more meetings to come out. There are still more customers to meet as Suzanne. But I did it!!!!! The world did not end. I can't tell you how much this has meant to me. I can breathe and I can be me. I have one more meeting that I have to be Brent for but that will be it.
Suzanne
The first appointment went well. The buyer is a woman and she took the news lightly. Is that it? I said yes and she said great no problem. So we then had lunch with my second largest customer. The owner met us and was so sweet. He told me it was an upgrade! He was so supportive and let my boss know that his company would be totally supportive. I was just elated. I mean I play golf with this guy and it was just the best to be accepted. Next stop was a customer that had just promoted my contact so we met both her and the new buyer. It was very business like and they said they were supportive and wished me well. The last stop was the toughest. We met with the owner of a distribution company that was very loud until we got to the subject at hand. He tensed up but I assured him I wasp to the task and would continue to do a great job. I sensed he was nervous about their customers. I told him in the event that we encountered a non supportive customer we could switch reps for him. He thanked me for the direct talk and I think this soothed his fear. Done 4 up 4 down!
Turns out there must be someone looking over me. My long time friend and sponsor flew in last weekend. On Monday morning he went with me to my office in Sacramento. I had to pick up some samples for a customer and we drove to Sacramento. I dropped him off at Starbucks and drove over to the office. I called my best girl friend and said ok, it is getting ready to happen. She wished me well and I pulled into the parking lot. I almost pulled my wig off combing it! I said a quick prayer and headed for the door.
I have heard other women here talk about their first days and I wish I was eloquent enough to capture the moment. It was surreal. I walked though the office and said hi. The two women I am closest to were very sweet. No problem there! Then I spoke with the CFO and the Director of Operations. No big deal, one was kind of tense but it was ok. I tried to help him by just being low key and at ease. Then I went into the president's office and sat down. He was cordial but a little distant. However, it was ok. I then had a meeting with the sales director. He has been the most involved with my transition and has came along way. He had met me before as Suzanne and this time seems more at ease. I walked out the door a happy woman!
The next day I made my first calls as me to customers. The first was to drop off samples at the company where the owner had been tense. The receptionist who took the samples couldn't quite figure out how she recognized me. She had seen me as male just 4 days before. Then I stopped by the plant of the super supportive person I had met with. He had shared my news with the buyer, a good friend of mine who I have a great relationship with. She was elated. She grabbed me and hugged me and then said look how beautiful. She was just the best! She kept saying how proud she was and that anything I needed she would do for me. It was one of the best moments of this entire journey. There were two more stops, they were fine and I headed home.
I know it is not over. There are still more meetings to come out. There are still more customers to meet as Suzanne. But I did it!!!!! The world did not end. I can't tell you how much this has meant to me. I can breathe and I can be me. I have one more meeting that I have to be Brent for but that will be it.
Suzanne