Strategy #4: Dress for Success
You know as well as I do that you feel better when you take a physical shower. Think about it. When you come home from the gym or work, there’s nothing like taking a nice hot shower. For me, it’s cutting the lawn. I have a pool in my backyard, and when the landscapers from our home owner’s association come into my backyard, they blow grass into the pool. I am a maniac about my pool. I simply couldn’t take it anymore so I posted a sign in Spanish that said “Stop. Do Not Cut the Grass!”
Now, I cut my own lawn, and there’s never any grass in the pool. My friend, Bob, assists me with the lawn and when I’m finished, I am very sweaty. My wife, Christie, says that I smell like a little stinky kid that just came off the playground and pretty much demands that I take a shower right away. The refreshing shower washes away all the dirt, grime and most of all, the smell from the hard work.
On the other hand, when you see me speak live, I am always dressed sharp. People say, “John, you are always dressed to the ultimate. You are always one of the sharpest looking speakers or presenters.” Absolutely! I believe in dressing for success. I completely disagree when people say, “Well, you don’t need to dress like that to be successful.” Everybody has a right to their own opinion, but I believe a major strategy for success is to dress the role. Can you imagine if I just came in from cutting the yard in my old shorts, tank top and hat smelling all gross and went straight to a seminar to speak? That’s just simply absurd, right? Yet, many so-called sales experts enter the sales arena looking almost as bad.
Clean up your act. Men, go out and invest in some sharp ties. Buy some shirts with cufflinks. At the recommendation of one of my billionaire friends, I now get my nails manicured. Notice, I said BILLIONAIRE. If it works for him, then it will work for you and me too! Whether you believe it or not, people notice. The first impression is the most important impression. I usually let my wife handle the women’s issues with dressing for success, but let me talk to the ladies for just a second. I will put this gently…You don’t have to bare all of your assets to make a sale. I didn’t say it. I’m just reiterating what my wife says, and I agree with her. Whether you are a man or a woman, make sure that you dress appropriately when you are in the sales arena. It will definitely have an effect on your sales presentation.
I disagree with coaches that teach success principles, and they look slothful. They don’t look cleaned up. They’re half asleep when they are talking to you, their clothes are wrinkled, and they are not dressed as a champion. It disgusts me when I see someone like that on stage trying to coach other people on success. Look at someone like Donald Trump. Donald Trump has a great wardrobe. You may not like what he says, but you can’t dispute the fact that he is always dressed to the nines. Don’t try to make the excuse that you can’t afford his clothes. It’s not expensive to look professional; however, it will cost you millions if you aren’t focused on the first impression.
When you walk into a presentation, the first thing people notice is how you look. They notice if your hair is a mess or if you are not clean-shaven as a man, or if you are wearing a suit that is too short or if you just threw on some jeans instead of dress slacks. Being dressed professionally not only influences your potential business client, but it also gives you more confidence. When you clean up, you feel better. If you don’t believe that, then don’t take a shower for two weeks and see how you feel. With that said, why would you walk into a business event where you can market your product or services and you don’t look and feel like a champion? You don’t look like who you know you want to be.
Make a decision today. Implement this strategy. For realtors or anyone that uses their automobiles to transport clients, make sure that your car isn’t a pigpen. If a potential buyer gets in your car and there’s garbage in the floorboards and it smells like three day old McDonald’s food, I doubt that they will want to book another appointment with you. They simply can’t get past your trashy car long enough to think about buying a house or being in business with you. I’m not saying that you have to drive a high-end, super expensive, luxury car, but your automobile does have to be clean so that your client is comfortable when they get in. I believe in cleanliness. I believe in excellence. I believe you should act and believe who you are.
Personal responsibility is the key. If someone is lazy and slothful, then they probably dress like a slob. If you consider yourself a business professional, then simply dress the role.
Strategy #4 Champion Tip: Dress for success. Feel extraordinary about the way that you look when you present your business or product to a potential customer, client, or patient.