My step-father wouldn't let me grow my hair out long in the early 90s in preparation for the QUOTE/UNQUOTE real world. Of course, I grew up to write code for a

My step-father wouldn't let me grow my hair out long in the early 90s in preparation for the QUOTE/UNQUOTE real world. Of course, I grew up to write code for a living where I've worked with guys with dreadlocks, full sleeves, long beards, piercings, and -- perhaps worst of all -- guys who wear flip flops. We also talked a lot about how I'd never have a boss who'd tolerate lateness. Cut to 20 years later: my co-workers saunter into the office at varying times, when they come in at all. The world really has changed right from under the generation before mine. My father thought he was preparing me for a good life. But he was wasting my time.