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How Changing Your Appearance Can Lead to Success and Positive Growth
By Carlon Haas | August 14, 2007
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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….
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Topics: Personal Development, Success Mindset |
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9 Responses to “How Changing Your Appearance Can Lead to Success and Positive Growth”
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August 14th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Excellent post my friend!
Great reminder and great job as always.
Steve
August 14th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
I agree that there a great value in the way a person dresses. Most people don’t realize that you say so much by the way you present yourself. I’m posting a section on my site about having presence in any situation and I also mention the importance of the way you present yourself. Great post!
August 14th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for the comments on the post. I’ll have to read your post.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Well, the sad truth is that all those people who ripped on you are/were pissed off about humanity’s obsession with judging books by their covers… yet, what are they, themselves, doing in their respective environments to change that piece of the culture?
Having said that, yeah… when we go to a professional for professional service, we damn well do expect that person to have a professional appearance. It’s the same as seeing a badge or name tag, a certificate or diploma on a wall, or certain initials after a persons name. It’s about the balance between projected and perceived credibility.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:07 am
About ten years ago, a friend got a job as a teller in a local bank. Tellers were required to wear a white blouse and a dark skirt.
She had not graduated from college although she was very smart and confided in me that she would not go very far at the bank.
I asked her what the women officers in the bank wore. She said a suit. Of course, I advised her to do the same. I told her, “look like the job you want.”
She thought I was crazy but she did it.
She is now the manager of the bank. People do notice if you dress the part!
August 15th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Thank you for the story, Corinne.
It perfectly illustrates what I was talking about.
Good for you for giving your friend such good advice.
And good for her for taking it.
August 19th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
[…] Less Exist More, Carlon Haas has posted an article I wholeheartedly agree with called, ‘How Changing your Appearance can Lead to Success and Positive Growth.‘ I have felt this way since I started to look at NLP for insights into effectiveness. […]
August 20th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Mark,
Thanks you for your comments on my post. It is much appreciated.
September 2nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
[…] Haas presents How Changing Your Appearance Can Lead to Success and Positive Growth posted at Possess Less Exist […]