This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with Taylor J. Swift, a 30-year-old on the POPVOX Basis in Washington, DC. It has been edited for size and readability.
I used to be 15 once I heard about the singer Taylor Swift for the primary time. At first, I believed, no huge deal, she’s a singer with a success music or two, this would possibly not impression me — however I used to be improper. As time continued, I began to seek out it irritating.
I used to be only a child making an attempt to reside my life, and I used to be now sharing a reputation with a giant singer. Moreover, I had simply moved again to Ohio to reside with my dad, so I used to be the brand new child at college, with the identify Taylor Swift. To high it off, I had a Justin Bieber haircut, I had glasses, and I used to be on the talk staff, it wasn’t a enjoyable time.
Much like most youngsters, I used to be making an attempt to determine who I wished to be, however a few highschool bullies and a choir trainer who would make jokes about my identify did not assist. When it got here time to go to school, and I used to be preparing for a recent begin, I knew I had two decisions. I might change my identify, or I might begin recent and embrace it.
It took numerous self-realization, however after some time, I made a decision I might run with Taylor Swift as a substitute of selecting the identify TJ, an abbreviation of my first and center identify. I keep in mind considering, I used to be given this identify for a motive, and I’ll develop, and change into who I am meant to change into with it.
Regardless that my identify comes up in each social interplay, together with in my political profession, I’ve determined to embrace it, have enjoyable with it, and see it as an general optimistic. I like my identify and I believe it has helped me greater than it has damage me, even at work.
My identify helps me stand out at work
As somebody who works within the congressional advocacy house, the place I assist advocate for issues like higher wages, pay advantages, and know-how, it helps to have a reputation like mine as a result of folks often keep in mind it. After I introduce myself to new staffers, new constituents, new lawmakers, or interns, they’re going to keep in mind me for weeks, and typically even months later. That is a very good factor.
If you’re in my line of labor you meet lots of people. Sooner or later, it feels very transactional. So, it is good to have one thing that helps you stand out — for me, it is my identify. When folks keep in mind my identify in addition they keep in mind the ball I am making an attempt to push ahead, and that is what’s vital.
I exploit my identify to make conversations extra light-hearted
With my work, we host an occasion the place we onboard our congressional interns in Congress. With this occasion, our primary aim is to assist scale back their nervousness in relation to networking, and we attempt to present them their work as interns really issues. On the occasion, when my identify comes up on the large display screen in entrance of roughly 350 interns, folks within the crowd begin to chuckle. Then they assume, possibly I should not chortle.
It is bizarre to chortle at somebody’s identify — I get it. To make them really feel much less bizarre about it, I pause, seize the microphone, and say, “Sure, my identify is Taylor Swift. Please be at liberty to make jokes, I am going to simply shake it off, later,” a Taylor Swift reference. Then everyone laughs and so they change into extra snug.
When at work, I am going to use different music lyric references, like, “I do know this challenge has been exhausting, however ‘we’re not out of the woods but'” and “I do know, this error was my fault. ‘I am the issue. It is me.'”
Political work will be irritating, so if making a joke about my identify makes somebody chortle, smile, or keep in mind me, I do it.
Getting folks to take me critically takes work
At first, folks might imagine, who is that this individual? How can I belief somebody with the identify Taylor Swift? With that stated, I’ve to work to get folks to take me critically.
Previously, I believe my identify has thrown folks off a bit. However, then as I have interaction in dialog with them, or if I am briefing a member of Congress, or holding some form of assembly, they see I am critical concerning the work we’re doing. I very a lot take delight within the work that we do, and after a minute, or two, folks see how devoted I’m to the trigger we’re engaged on and my identify would not take away from that.
I exploit my center preliminary to assist keep away from confusion
After I do interviews with the press, I ask them to please quote me as Taylor J. Swift, so nobody confuses me because the pop singer. This fashion, nobody wonders why Taylor Swift (with out the J) is talking on congressional modernization and oversight. I additionally embody the “J” on my enterprise playing cards or when making use of to jobs, to keep away from confusion.
Even nonetheless, folks do surprise. For instance, simply this previous weekend, I booked a dinner reservation for 2 below the identify Taylor Swift. I might inform the hostess appeared a bit disenchanted once I confirmed up. Like regular, they joked about how I wasn’t the actual Taylor Swift, so I simply laughed and stated, I hear it on a regular basis however I simply shake it off.
I now assume, that if my identify is the largest wrestle I’ve in life, I am doing OK. It feels trivial to imagine in any other case.
In case your identify has an impact in your profession or job and also you wish to share your story, please electronic mail Manseen Logan at mlogan@businessinsider.com
