Does your name influence your life choices

     Many of us have common names that could fit in any life style or career, but others have names seem to fit in certain occupations but not in others.  Some people choose their names to fit their occupation yet it seems others are driven to certain careers by their given name. 

     Imagine going to your accountant at tax time.  You call to make an appointment when the receptionist says “We have 4 accountants in the office, who would you like to see” you respond, “Lady Gaga Gaga if she’s available, if not Prince will do”.   See it just doesn’t work; names make a difference in some jobs.  Sure that’s not their real names but would they be so well known if they kept their given names?

     Take for example the Olympic snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg.  Really, how perfect is the name Sage for a snowboarder, it’s ideal.  Did his name drive his destiny?  

     I worked with a guy at MDC/Boeing by the name of Newt, actually his first name was Francis (Frank) but everyone knew him as Newt.  I’ve got to say the name fit him.  I can only imagine that when he was a young boy his father called him in for dinner “Hey, Frank it’s time to eat” which prompted a later conversation in which Frank (Newt) told his dad he preferred to be called by his middle name “Newt”.  So from that time on was he destined to be a scientist or engineer.   With a name like Newt it’s unlikely that he would have become a snowboarder, as it’s also just as unlikely that Sage would be a scientist name.

     Then there are given names that parents give to their kids that match the last name in some way.  What may sound cute (Holly Day, Candy Barr, North West) when they’re young, while others are just wrong (Ima Pig, Jack Ash), those families with descriptive names need to be careful of the name choices they make for a child’s first name.  I’m sure you have more examples.  So if you happened to be saddled with one of these names and it bothers you change it or give yourself a nickname of your choice. 

     Of course I can think of a few name matches that might work as a positive, say if your name was Lawrence Suit you might go by Law Suit if you are a lawyer or what if you were a psychic and your name was Crystal Ball, whoa how perfect of course if you are Crystal you probably already knew that.

     One might think should I change my name to fit my career or change my career to fit my name?  If you change your name can it jumpstart a new career or pump up an existing one, who knows? “Just Saying…..”