How Changing Your Appearance Can Lead to Success and Positive Growth
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When I was marketing consultant, there was one bit of advice I would give to most of my clients. This advice provoked outrage 70% of the time or passive-aggression 29% of the time and affirmation 1% of the time.
I felt so strongly about this subject I blogged on it more than once. The only problem is that I had a near-revolt from angry people telling me where to stick it—both times I blogged about it. But in all fairness to these rippers, they chose to rip me directly by e-mail rather than posting anonymous comments.
And what advice was it that provoked such outrage?
It was that to make money in business, you should wear a suit. Dress for success!
I thought it was pretty non-controversial, but a lot of people thought I was being unfair. Or raged about how unjust it is to be judged by how you dress. The rippers are right. It is not fair at all. However, the world does work that way and it’s not going to change overnight. And besides, if given the chance, those same rippers would criticize people who dressed in ways they found unappealing.
But why am I bringing this up?
Because as I have stopped advising people on marketing, one truth still remains: the way we dress does reflect the image we have of ourselves, and other people pick up on that image.
Appearance Matters to us as well as Others
The way we feel about ourselves directly affects our ability to grow and develop. I’ve read a lot of things about changing your mindset. And one thing I’ve read over and over is a piece of advice that boils down to, “say what you want to change and your mindset will change.”
Well, that is great advice. But I have found that just wishing something to happen or trying to affirm yourself into changing your mind is difficult and frustrating. But you can take some small actions that can start the process of changing the way you feel about yourself.
One action is to change the way you dress. If you start feeling down or feel like you are not achieving what you want to achieve, you can start dressing in a way that makes you feel better. Change the image in the mirror and your mind will pick up on that image. And no, I am not saying to go out and spend a bunch of money on new clothes. You can do something as simple as put on a freshly-ironed shirt. Or maybe break some ties out of the closet. Or wear a pair of shoes that you really like.
Once you start looking the way you want to feel, your mind will subconsciously follow. It may not be that easy because when you feel down your mind will reject things that make you feel better or your mind might only allow you some temporary satisfaction. This is why I don’t recommend buying a bunch of new clothes.
And I am not recommending any particular style of dress. If you want to feel like a serious professional, then you can wear a business suit. Or if you want to feel like a rock star, then by all means dress like a rock star. Personally, I’ve been known to dress like Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty. Last time I looked, I haven’t actually become Rob Thomas, but I do feel a lot cooler at times…or in Rob Thomas’ words, I feel more s-m-o-o-t-h….
