I received great advice many years ago about the importance of dressing nice and it changed my life. Dressing nice meaning professional and completely well put together. Psychologists state that the first impression you have of another starts with appearance. It makes perfect sense to me. Regardless of right or wrong, judging someone happens immediately and without consciousness. Consider two people for your company, and one is dressed great and the other not, then you automatically favor the great one. Even if they both sell themselves the exact same way.
The 3-Piece Suit.
I recall a very eye-opening situation for myself back 20 years ago. There was a professional event that I was to attend and I didn’t have anything nice to wear for it. My sister is in the professional world for many years understood the importance of “dressing the part” and encouraged me to get a nice suit. She went with me, helped pick it out and she even bought it for me (bonus)! It was a three-piece suit made by Claiborne. Mother of God did I look fantastic and it made me feel very confident instantaneously and I will never forget it! So yeah it made a powerful statement of looking and being professional in one. I truly felt like a million dollars and the perception of others without even speaking to me was, “Wow, this guy is on point!” (actual words of others)
Look in the mirror. That’s your competition.
– John Assaraf
1920’s NYC Mentality.
When I was a young my grandfather always told me stories of when he was growing up in the 1920’s New York. NYC during that period was a hustling ground to survive and thrive. I was completely enthralled with the stories and all of the pictures I saw of him wearing suits and dress clothes even to play stickball in the alleyways. My understanding of the mindset back then was out of necessity. It was a society that took great pride in their appearance. To get work you needed to dress the part and always be on your game. Today, sadly people have let go of the pride within themselves. People actually go out in public looking like slobs wearing pajamas.
Let’s not dwell on societies woes, rather focus on our abilities to make progress in our mentality of what’s important. Take a look in the mirror right now. Are you freshly shaved and groomed? ( all of the sexes demand maintenance ) If not hit the pause button right now and go handle that. Like for real, I will wait right here. Once complete take another look in the mirror. How do you feel? I bet you feel pretty good.
Keep your chin up.
This is the feeling we want to embrace the daily for a great mindset of dressing the part. Even if you don’t have a business meeting or interview on a particular day dress nice. Let’s say it’s your day off and your out and about and you’re feeling a bit down go ahead and go through the motions of looking your best. Put your shoulders back, chin up and look people in the eye. Give respect and command it back! See how quickly people look at you and smile. It will put a smile on your face as well, so go with that!
driven:
motivated or determined by a specified factor or feeling.
Please do me a favor and take the time to do this. Go out and try it and report back here with your experiences. Let us know and be truthful. Did it work the same for you?
(Please respond to the questions here with us so we can learn and grow. The good and the bad will help others recognize successes and failures in our own lives. Thank you so very much!)
