Day 21: Roadmap into the industry (The war room)

The conference room in a top law firm where a friend used to work was nicknamed the "war room." The walls were decorated with paintings of ships in the midst of epic battles; the furniture was solid wood with brass accents. As soon as a new client enters the war room, before any words are spoken or strategy is discussed, they sense that their attorneys will fight the best battle they can to protect their interests.

More recently, a friend who is a physical therapist mentioned that she was often mistaken for a nurse. "I'm sorry, I don't have access to medication," she'd explain several times every day as patients and patient families stopped her to ask her for pain pills.

At her workplace, scrubs are considered professional attire for physical therapists, but when she began wearing office attire (or when she wears a lab coat), she works all day with patients, and no one mistakes her for a nurse.

Clothing and objects create strong impressions, and are powerful elements in every story.