The Art of First Impressions and the Perils of Office Lunches

Question and Thought for the Day March 10, 2025

Question of the Day: What’s the most obnoxious food to eat at work?

Thought of the Day: Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain—and most fools do. You’re not going to get a third chance to make a second impression. Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin had a knack for cutting to the core of human nature. His words still ring true:
“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain—and most fools do. You’re not going to get a third chance to make a second impression.”

And yet, so many people sabotage themselves before they even get to the second impression. They waltz into a new job, a client meeting, or a social gathering, oblivious to how they’re coming across—sometimes literally, in the case of office lunches.

Think about it. You’ve been there. Sitting at your desk, minding your business, when a coworker unleashes the scent of a thousand regrets from their lunch container. Maybe it’s day-old fish. Maybe it’s a microwaved hard-boiled egg. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s something so aggressive—like durian or a steaming bowl of extra-garlic curry—that it permanently alters the atmosphere of the entire floor.

That person? They’re making an impression. And it’s not a good one.

How You Show Up Matters

First impressions aren’t just about handshakes and eye contact. They’re about presence—how people feel when you walk into a room, when you speak, and yes, even when you eat. Smells linger. Behaviors stick. People don’t forget easily.

At work, in life, and in relationships, the way you present yourself can either open doors or slam them shut. People will forgive a small misstep, but a pattern of poor judgment (or rank-smelling lunches) creates a lasting reputation.

So before you bring that leftover seafood pasta to the office microwave or let criticism spill out of your mouth faster than you can take it back, pause. Ask yourself:

• Is this the impression I want to make?
• Is this how I want to be remembered?
• Am I making things better or worse for the people around me?
  

The Workplace Food Offender’s Hall of Shame

Now, to the real question of the day: What’s the most obnoxious food to eat at work?

A few contenders for the title:

• Fish of any kind – Smells like the ocean died in the breakroom.
• Overly garlicky anything – Turns your cubicle into a vampire-free zone.
• Hard-boiled eggs – Fine at home. A crime against humanity at work.
• Microwave popcorn – The ultimate divider: people either love or loathe the smell.
• Anything with excessive crunch – If your chewing is louder than your typing, it’s too much.

What’s your pick for the worst offender? Drop it in the comments. And if you’re about to bring something smelly to work tomorrow… reconsider.

Because whether it’s your attitude, your work ethic, or your choice of lunch, one thing is certain: you never get a third chance to make a second impression.