Sometimes You Don’t Have to be Cool to be Cool: the Lesson of Sir Geoffrey
Geoffrey Powell was a British solicitor who, in his retirement, attempted to teach Canadian law students something about wills and estates. That he succeeded to some extent was more a testimony to his skill and perseverance than to our cleverness.
Back in the seventies, law students tended to be a grungy bunch, slouching around in scruffy work boots, grubby jeans and lumberjack shirts (yes, the women, too). Some of the professors dressed a little better, many dressed worse. We all wanted so much to be cool.
In this setting, then, Professor Powell was conspicuous, a dove amongst starlings. With silver hair and twinkling blue eyes, he dressed impeccably: Oxford blazer, crisply-pressed flannels, smart (but very sensible) shoes, and the school tie. He carried himself with elegance and spoke with the finest Received Pronunciation. Striding briskly up to the motley scrum waiting at the elevator he would inquire cheerily, “Has anyone summoned the lift?”
If ever there were a prototypical British solicitor, it was he, and we fondly called him “Sir Geoffrey”. We adored him.
In a world where we all worked so hard at being “cool”, Sir Geoffrey was “uber cool”. Effortlessly.
Why? Because he was just himself. He was genuine and comfortable with his own brand.
Need I say more?