Because Of – Not In Spite Of – Arne Hope

Arne HopeAbout the Author:

My name is Arne Hope, 69 years old, married, with three grown up children, and six grandchildren between 15 and 1 years old. I´ve studied Public administration at the University in  Bergen,  and have had a  long career within municipality and regional government.

I have been stuttering since the age of six and was the former chairman of the Norwegian Stuttering Association.

I have had  a good life and can look back on a career that has been interesting and fulfilling. What started it all many years ago was that someone saw and heard me and chose to take me on. I hope my story can be an inspiration for others.

More than 40 years  ago a nervous and sweaty 28 year old sat in a conference room in Masfjorden Municipality Administration in Hordaland, Norway. The occasion was a job interview. He had applied for a job as a consultant in the administration. At the same time a brand new position as a Chief Municipality Executive had been created. He had been cocky enough to apply for that one too. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! He was well prepared. Still the interview did not go smoothly. He kept on stuttering and stuttering. But when the interview was over, he said bravely : “I guess you noticed that I stutter. But I don’t think that will matter in this job.” With 17 applicants on the list, nothing seemed to give him the slightest chance. He therefore didn’t believe his ears when he heard that he was on top of the list. Not for the position as a consultant, but for the Chief Executive one. And the municipality council voted in Arne Hope as their very first Chief Municipality Executive. Ten busy, exciting and instructive years followed. Honestly I can’t say that my stuttering never was an obstacle in my work. At times it was demanding. But we managed to get a lot done in the municipality those ten years, and that’s what’s important.

Today we drove E39 through Masfjorden on our way from Førde to Lindås.  On the ferry I got the idea that I would visit the guy who was the leader of the administration committee back then, and who had a central role in hiring me. It turned out to be a heartwarming reunion with the 82 year old former local politician. We talked and shared memories about many topics, and he started talking about when I got the position as a Chief Executive. “I remember that the interview went ok, even if you stuttered quite a lot. Then you said that stuttering would not stop you from doing your job. We then thought – this is our man!”

Here they gave me the job because of my stuttering, not in spite of my stuttering. They obviously meant that here was a man with a strong will. And that was what they were looking for.

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Because Of – Not In Spite Of – Arne Hope — 52 Comments

  1. Arne that is such a beautiful story! I often forget that while there are some people who react negatively towards one’s stutter, there are so many that react positively and see it as a unique characteristic that gives someone resilience, perspective, strong will, etc.

    How have you been able to keep this message to the forefront of your mindset as this is such a wonderful example of how really embracing and leaning into it can lead to so many great things? This speaks to me in so many ways as I have noticed how the deeper I have leaned into it and accepted it, the more connections and advancements I am getting as well in my career but also in my personal life.

    • Thank you, Kumal. Until a few months ago I thought that they hired med in spite of my severe stuttering, not because of. Of course I have wished I was a fluent person, and not a PWS. But at the same time, i am sure that my stuttering has made me stronger as a person.

  2. Arne, thank you for sharing your story with us. It was heart-warming and empowering. I am glad that you did not let stuttering come in the way of your dreams and growth and define you. You are a role model and I am sure you story will inspire many people to take control over their lives and not let stuttering define them. My best wishes to you and your family.

  3. Thank you, Arne, for sharing your story. It is an important story, and important lesson, and I hope that many people read it and are inspired by you.

    Hanan

  4. When I was 14, my mother told me to find a job where I didn’t need to use my voice. I am sure that her intentions were good. But if I had followed her advices, I don’t think I would have become a more happy person.
    Of course my stuttering has been frustrating and annoying sometimes. But in a long term, the positive experiences have weighed up for the negative ones.

  5. Arne, thank you for sharing your wonderful story. The confidence you presented yourself with is truly inspiring. Your comment after your interview stood out to me as an individual. What was the driving force to make you say this powerful statement while addressing your stutter so confidently and ultimately earned you the position? I applaud you and thank you.
    – B

    • I had been active in the students union at the university, and when I applyed for the job, I was a teacher at a “distriktshøgskule” -something between a college and a local university. So I was in a way familiar with speaking before an audience. But I didn’t like giving lectures at all, due to my stuttering. Well, nothing could be worse than standing before a crowd of students. I must admit that I gave up an academic career. After all a job in the bureaucracy looked easier.
      The point of my story is not me, but my employers, who emphasized what they saw as a strong will, before the problems of my severe stuttering.

  6. Well Arne, You made me cry. I love your story. It shows your strength, bravery, and determination for sure. I have a great amount of empathy for people. I would have hired you too. Your determination must have filled the room. I admire your strength and success.

    I am so glad you chose to use your voice and still are by helping others with your story. I’m picturing a small town feel where you grew up. Did you know anyone who stuttered from your childhood years? I can’t imagine growing up not understanding a personal struggle and how difficult it must have been. Are you a LEO???
    Warmly, Nikki Rader

    • Thanks, Nikki 🙂 I grew up in the small village of Varhaug in south western Norway. At school I was the only one with stuttering. When I was ten, I went for one year to a “special school” for children who stuttered, quite far away from my family. This year was more traumatic to me than my stuttering.
      I was not “cured” at all. But maybe the year away from my parents made me stronger as a person. Stuttering in Norway may not be as problematic as in other cultures. People are generally more or less tolerant.
      Am I a LEO? No, I think I am a scorpion :-))

  7. This is a great story Arne, I’m glad you went on to advocate for others that stutter! I was wondering if now those schools for stuttering still exist? Thank you for sharing your story!

    -Justin

    • In the “old days” Norwegian children with some disabilities as blindness and deafness were segregated into “special schools” for their entire school period. Children who stutter could go for a year at “Halmrast special school for children who stutter”. I was sent there when I was 9 and a half. First we went by night train from Stavanger to Oslo, then by another train and another one too… The school was quite far away from my home and my parents.
      20-30 years ago the long term hospitalization of children came to an end, and now children who stutter are treated in their own community.

  8. Arne, I loved learning about your story. A person’s character and work ethic should be the main focus when hiring for any position. It is uplifting to hear that the leader of the administration committee was able to recognize your strong will through your stutter. I admire your confidence to apply for not only one position but two positions. This is a true testament to your work ethic. Thanks so much for sharing!

  9. This story is amazing and goes to show that anyone can do anything they set their mind to (PWS or not). The ending of this is my favorite; that they hired you because of your stutter and not in spite of. This sends a powerful message that stuttering has the capability of not being a hinderance. I think a lot of us, me included, fear rejection more than not getting what we really want in life. You’ve beautifully explained how ambition and drive mean more to others (especially employers) than uncertainty and self doubt.

    • Many employers still believe that a person who stutter may be a big problem for the company. The interview I write about was not my only job interview at that time. At least once I was excluded because of my stuttering. (I admit I wasn’t able to perform a single fluent word at that interview)
      In Masfjorden municipalitiy I was speaking before the council at every meeting, sometimes almost fluently, sometimes with quite a lot of stuttering. But I never heard my speech difficulties were mentioned or commented by anyone. The get used to accept me and my stuttering as normal, as the way Arne is.
      Well, one day the mayor came to me. He had got a phone call from my dad. He was concerned about my stuttering, and asked the mayor about it. The mayor said; No worry. As long as Arne does a good job, his stuttering is no problem for us.
      So my message is: Consentrate on your capabilities, not on your stuttering 🙂

      • A correction to the first sentence: “Some employers still believe that a person who stutter may become a problem for the company”

  10. Hello Arne,
    Thank you for sharing your story with us. It has truly been inspiring. I am currently enrolled in a fluency disorders class at my university in California and was given the opportunity to attend this online conference. I am so glad to have stumbled upon your inspiring life story. It seems that you have had a very full life, like you say in your title, because of -not in spite of, your stuttering. Your confidence to reach your goals has truly inspired me to follow my dreams when self-doubt creeps in. One question I have for you is, how exactly did you channel that self-confidence in your interview? Any tips would be helpful!!

    Thanks again, Tamara.

    • Thanks, Tamara:-)
      At high school, my self confidence was below zero. It took me minutes to read a few sentences in the classroom. But at university I got more friends, and I was an active member of the students union and different organisations. That gave me the opportunity to challenge my comfort zone. And my first job after graduating was what you in the US call an assistant professor at a local university. I didn’t apply for that job. I got a phone call. They needed a guy who could give lectures i organisation theory and public health. Well, I had to think for some days. But I could not say no to such an offer. I was p… nervous when I entered the podium for the first time. My plastic overheads (this was before the PowerPoint age) helped me a lot. And for one year I kept on with this. The lectures gave me some experience, and I was no longer that nervous, though my stuttering. So before the job interview I write about, I knew that I could make the job, even with some stuttering. But of course the main thing is showing that you are qualified for the job, stuttering or not. So my advice is: Speak a lot! When you meet persons, use that opportunity to start small talking. Never shut up! Good luck 🙂 Arne

  11. Hi Arne!

    Thank you so much for sharing your story, it was a really nice read and absolutely wonderful to know that you got a better role than you originally applied for! You are a very inspiring person and I hope that your story can be told to many other people who stutter and will give them motivation.
    Prior to the interview, how did you mentally prepare yourself for it?

    Thank you,
    Angelica

  12. Thanks, Angelica 🙂
    In my career after my first jos, I have intervewed and hired a cpouple of hundred persons. So my experience comes also from that side of the table. When applying for at job, the most important thing is to convince them that you are the right person for the job. Find out as much as possible about the company and the job. Talk about your knowledge and your qualifications and relate them to the job you are aplying for. The more and better you are prepared, the more self conficence. And you stutter less when you are self confident, and put yourself in the drivers seat. I sometimes make this preparation: Say to yourself 50 times: This will be OK. I’m looking forward to it! Don’t focus on avoiding stuttering. The important thing is what you are saying, not how you are saying it. And being nervous at a job interview is quite normal. A good employer tries to pick up the best from the candidate.

    Wish you a happy weekend 🙂
    Arne

  13. Hi Arne,

    Thank you for sharing this. It’s really cool that people viewed stuttering as something that gave you qualities that are admirable. I hope this kind of respect becomes the norm in societies going forward. I’ve certainly found my respect grow from reading your story.

    Have you noticed any changes in larger society?

    • My impression is that stuttering is more accepted in society than before. But that is a general trend, that various disabities are more accepted.

  14. Hi Arne! Thank you for sharing your story. I feel very inspired by your experience. I am currently a student studying speech therapy. Other than your job, how else has stuttering positively impacted your life? I feel like there are so many negative stories and I appreciate your positive outlook! I would love to hear another example.
    Thank you!
    Sarah Korneff

    • Hi Sarah,
      I think most people, myself included, like speaking fluently better than stuttering. But That doesn’t mean that you have a worse life as a PWS. Thanks to my stuttering I have got a lot of stuttering friends in many countries. The meetings in the Norwegian Stuttering Association and the Nordic Stuttering seminars are very important for me. I also think that my stuttering has made me stronger as a person.

  15. Hi Arne, your story is an amazing one, and I loved reading it, and It is incredibly inspiring for me to read! I am studying speech therapy, and I was wondering if you could provide advice on how to help people who stutter gain the confidence you have. I want people who stutter to know that no one should judge them based on something uncontrollable.

    • This is a big question that cannot be answered by a few words. But one advice is: Put more focus on your abilities and less on your stuttering.

  16. Hi Arne!
    Indeed, your story is an inspiration for others! You are a person who live your life fully, and you are still an important resource both for the administrative division in Hordaland, as well as for the Norwegian Association for stuttering and cluttering. Thank you for sharing your story, and thank you for you being you!

    With the very best wishes from Hilda

  17. Hey Arne, I really enjoyed reading your story, at times it felt like I was watching this story play out. I think it really says something that you got the job because of your confidence. A lesson I think everyone can learn from, especially me. But more importantly, it was awesome that the committee wasn’t deterred by stuttering. They cared more about what you had to offer which is something else everyone can learn from.

    • I am also grateful to the guyes who hired me. And also: I had a lot of stuttering in my job, but they never seemed to care about it. It was never mentioned as a problem, -as far as I know.

  19. Hey Arne! This goes to show that a stutter does NOT define you or your capabilities. I love how confident you are. Thank you for sharing your story! -Kenslee Maines

  20. Hi Arne,

    Thank you for sharing your story. It is so inspiring to hear that you got the job because of – not in spite of being a person who stutters. I love the attitude of “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. I think a lot of times we do not take enough risks, I am glad yours paid off!

  21. Hi Arne! I found your story very inspiring and empowering! It is so important to remember that stuttering does not define who someone is. It is more about the person’s character, work ethic, and drive that they bring to the table that speaks volumes and truly matters. Your story exemplified that lesson perfectly, and I really enjoyed reading your article!

  22. Nice to meet you, Arne!

    Thank you so much for sharing your experience; it was a really enjoyable read, and it is good to hear that you were offered a position that was better than the one you originally sought. You are a motivating person, I think it’s important to have a strong sense of self and perseverance.
    I wanted to ask how did you find your self-worth? (As a student I find it hard to find worth in myself and I’m seeking words of encouragement)

    • There are several ways to build your self confidence. My way was to accept my stuttering and accept myself as I am. And of course you must have the qualifications needed for the job.

  23. Hey Arne,

    Thank you for sharing your story and journey! What an incredible accomplishment. The relationship you developed with the leader of the administration committee. Your story demonstrated that your hard work, dedication, and confidence shined through. I enjoyed reading when you said “Here they gave me the job because of my stuttering, not in spite of my stuttering” What an important story and message to share!

    • I had almost forgotten the interview i 1981, and it was a surprise to me when Alf Solheim, the leader of the administation comitee, told me about it some months ago.

  24. Hi Arne,
    I deeply enjoyed reading your story. I am so inspired you were determined to be successful despite of your stutter. I am sure your stutter has helped make your personality strong. I will keep your story and will share with friends who stutter to encourage them to never be discouraged by their stutter.

  25. Hi Arne! Your story was so inspiring to me in many ways! This story was a great example of not letting stuttering define you and continuing to show your great personality, work ethic, and confidence no matter what! I also love that you went back to visit the person who had the main role in hiring you. This part of the story was so heartwarming. I loved reading your article.

    Thank you so much for sharing,
    Madison Mistretta

    • It was really a heartwarming meeting with Alf Solheim. I also have good contact with other politicians and collegues from that time. My stuttering has not been mentioned, though it somtetimes was quite hard. I am very grateful for having been accepted as the person I am.

  26. Hej Arne

    Of course they hired you. Having known you for so many years, your personality is something noone can disregard and all want to have. A great mix of skills, humor, honesty, respect and persistance. Who wouldn’t want a person like that? And that’s why it’s so important for us to show the person behind the stutter, as we have so much to offer to an employer, despite, but maybe even more thanks to our stutter. Thank you for sharing this empowering story. And thank you for having been such a great friend and rolemodel to me throughout the years and hope to continue for many more. See you in Bergen. 😉

    Varma hilsener

    Anita

  27. What a great story. Props to you and your former boss for seeing that strong will and determination. It speaks volumes to his character and your character. Regardless if you stuttered or not, you worked hard and made him and that organization very proud for hiring such a high caliber person. Thank you, for sharing.

    • I had not expected all that response to my article. It warms my heart, and shows how important it is that we share our experiences and encourage each other. During all the years after the interview I thought that I was hiding my stuttering so well that they didn’t notice so much of it. But the truth was that they heard a lot of stuttering, and noticed that I after all coped with it.

  28. Hi Arne! Thanks so much for sharing your story! Your story is the perfect example of how acceptance of stuttering can take you so many places. I love how you were confident in yourself and your abilities that you could contribute to the prospective job, and you did not let your stuttering stand in the way of you having a chance of being hired. Also, I was reading previous comments to your story and saw a piece of advice you gave someone on building self-confidence that really stood out to me. You said, “Put more focus on your abilities and less on your stuttering.” I really love that advice and believe it is so accurate in building confidence to not let your stuttering define yourself.

    Thanks so much for sharing!
    Caroline