PERSONAL VIEW: “Embarrassing Moments at Work”

By Jim Lamb

Woke up this morning with a blue spot on my nose. It was toothpaste. That tells me two things: 1) Must have brushed my teeth last night. 2) Apparently without the bathroom light on … and that’s not the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Not even close.

Some years back (in the early 1990s) I was a section editor at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. As I stepped out of my cubicle, one of my colleagues made an observation:

“Your shoes don’t match,” he said.

Looking down, I realized that my socks didn’t match, either ... Embarrassing. And that’s still not the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.

(Drum roll, please.)

In an interview with the then-Saint Petersburg Times, I showed up looking sharp—shoes matched, socks matched, etc.

After the interview, I stopped by the restroom only to see a big booger hanging from my nose. Disgusting.

Did not get the job.

What about you? What’s your most embarrassing work-moment. (G-rated, please.) Can you top toothpaste on the nose? Shoes that don’t match? A booger? Share your story, and help bring a smile to my face.

Thanks.