Who is Patty K? (and why does she dress that way?)

Curious about me? I’ll start with the first question people always ask.

What’s up with the pajamas?

I have many reasons for wearing them.

There’s an aspect of marketing/branding/attention getting. People notice and remember me.

I work from home. My “Right People” work from home. Having complete control over my environment, including how I dress is one of the best things about being self-employed. I work better and I think better when I’m comfortable.

This is who I am. This is how I dress. I’ve been working from home in my pajamas or a pair of ratty sweats for the last 20 years.

I find grown up clothes uncomfortable, distracting, expensive and confusing. I have zero interest in fashion.

There must be a story behind this…

Yes, there is a story. About overcoming my fear of rejection, worry about wearing the wrong thing and being impossibly shy.

My pajamas remind me that I’m brave…and do for me what a “power suit” can do for other women.

They also keep the stuffy people away.

What about rejection?

It’s true. Some people have zero tolerance for my personal style. I’ve been asked not to attend certain networking events. I’ve been rejected for volunteer positions. I get the Glare of Disapproval on a regular basis.

This is all OK with me.

Those people, those events, those positions? Not a good fit for me.

I work with people who want to make a difference

Making a difference = instigating change. Daring to do something outside of the mainstream. (Like, say, working from home in your own business.)

My mission is to help and support other people who are out there taking a stand, doing something different and working to effect change.

Because that’s how we’re going to change the world.

My clothes are my little rebellion…and a visible demonstration that I live by my values rather than conforming to what everyone else is doing.

“Just looking at you…makes me feel comfortable”

This is a comment I hear frequently.

And it’s exactly the environment I want to create in my Mastermind Groups and Workshops.

I believe in cooperation, collaboration and community – which requires things like comfort, trust, safety. I believe that the prevailing business wisdom of: “dress for success, make a good impression, fake it until you make it, never let them see you sweat, etc.” puts up barriers.

Wearing pajamas, being real and showing up as myself…this is my way of bringing down the barriers.

Thank you for reading.

I’d love it if you’d introduce yourself. Say Hi on Twitter…or connect with me.

~ Patty

Want to know a little more about me (as a person)? See: Peek behind the flannel curtain.