Two summers ago, I was asked by the afternoon school that I helped out with to give a trial lesson on the school’s online platform.

I was told this was a group of beginners who wanted to learn public speaking. I asked for a list of names but wasn’t given any information beforehand. That was fine; I could easily get it during the lesson.

However, when I started the trial lesson and got each person to introduce him/herself, I realized that all of the students in attendance were high-level kids and/or advanced. That did not faze me, as I was already prepared (as I am always prepared).

The lesson went on, and I taught a few concepts that could help the students with giving speeches.

That was the only time I was asked to do that class. Maybe a week after that, I was given some feedback from the boss. He told me two specific “complaints” from the students’ parents.

1. The boss had made up a flyer of me with a photo of myself wearing a suit. (I had worn that suit to L.A. a few years back when I was invited to join the Dodgers Nation podcast, and I went there to do the show in person. I really didn’t have to wear a suit, but I chose to for that occasion.) The complaint was that during the lesson, I was not wearing a suit(??????). I was dressed very casually, wearing an NFL jersey and a hat. My explanation to the boss was that I’m not doing a news broadcast, I’m not Stephen A. Smith doing a show on ESPN, I’m not a news anchor, etc. I’m doing a lesson. I’m not a businessperson. I’m not a salesperson. However, the parents expected me to have worn a suit. Apparently, they told the boss that the person teaching the trial lesson was not the same as the person in the photo. I explained that I would not be wearing a suit for any lessons because that’s not required and I don’t feel comfortable wearing that, and it would affect the way I teach. (I then pulled up a video of Clay Travis, who does dress up when he appears on FOX but dresses casually when he does his own podcast, to show the boss that that particular lawyer/radio host doesn’t wear a suit when he is doing a podcast.)
2. The second complaint was that the parents, who were spying (watching) the session in a hidden spot (because I only saw the students on the webcams), said that I wasn’t paying attention when their kids were talking(??????). They said I kept looking down and not looking at their kids’ faces. My explanation was simple: As the students (there were eight) were taking turns to speak, I was making notes on a piece of loose-leaf paper to keep track of what they were saying so that I could give feedback or commentary later (which I did). So, when I was “looking down and not at the kids’ faces,” it was because I was making notes. After all, it was the first time I had met them. I wrote down their hobbies and goals, etc., things that they were saying. I even showed the boss later that piece of paper. I can totally see other lazy teachers doodling while students are speaking, and probably those parents thought I was one of those lazy people. I am not.

To me, these “complaints” were from parents (and a boss) who didn’t know what I was doing, and they insisted on a suit and they thought I was not listening to their kids. I explained my perspective to my boss. It did not work — because I was not asked to do this class again.

I’m not Stephen A. Smith on ESPN. I’m not a corporate person. If I were, I would wear a suit, but I’m not.

So, again, I was not given a fair opportunity (I was, in fact, railroaded by being told the students were beginners and then the excuse was the boss also didn’t know). Perhaps the marketing efforts were poor. The communication was definitely lacking. I mean, marketing is not easy; at the end of the day, if the deal wasn’t “closed,” so to speak, that’s on marketing.

My job is teaching, and I delivered an effective lesson teaching the students some key concepts. If I really wanted to do marketing, then I wouldn’t be teaching. If I wanted to wear a suit, I would be doing another line of work.