A client of mine is a multi-millionaire, and owns a construction services company. Basically, he hires surveyors and other professionals, and contracts them to large engineering corporations, keeping as profit the difference between what his clients pay and what he pays his (self-employed) staff. As a business model, it's perfect: no employees, no employer's insurance contributions, no pension scheme, using other people's experience and ideas, and making over £1000 perhour (about US 2300): brilliant. His staff I should say are paid fairly, (and he pays me on time).

He told me that when he first started, he realised that it was essential to look successful (this was 1992, the depths of a worldwide recession, with construction companies in the UK going 'down the Swanee' every month)- because if one looks successful, people assume you ARE successful, and treat you accordingly, even if in truth, you are just starting out, and don't have two pennies to rub together. (He didn't, his home circumstances were quite modest).

Steve, my client, thinks this comes down to the self-image he has. If you BELIEVE you are a go-getter, you will look like it, and act like it, taking care of your appearance, the way you talk, the way you present yourself, and indeed, the sort of business opportunities you go for, your service delivery, and crucially, give out the signals about the way you expect others to treat you. On the other hand, if you BELIEVE you are a loser... well, 'nuff said.

So, a question for all of us SOGR disciples...do YOU look successful? Do you have this self-image that says "successful, happy, confident", so you can tell your mirror reflection each day "You're fantastic!" without blushing or a twinge of unease or inner conflict? Do you dress as well as you can afford to... or are you an unkempt slob? Are your shoes cleaned, and do you hold your head up, and look people in the eye without fear of confrontation, but confidently and with a friendly smile?

For whatever your TRUE self-image is... others will treat you accordingly, and this is from a man who declares over £3m a year in personal income, from a business he started from scratch in 1992 in the worst recession in living memory.
Makes you think, doesn't it?
O

Very good observation, and yet another AHA moment for me!

Absolutely 100% pure fact. Nice post.

I have long been amazed at how your look/attire/outward appearance can affect your own attitude about yourself. Of course, your appearance will affect those who see you, but what I'm really referring to here is how it affects how you feel about yourself - which in turn creates the confidence that you then have to go with the physical appearance that people see.

Truer words were never spoken. This was, for me, too, an "A-HA!" moment!

Best to all,

Woodstock

I like this concept. Lately, I have been trying to keep neat and keep my personal appearance in order. I think it also could be important to keep other things about your life in order as well. Things like your house and your yard.

Good luck to all of you.
Jim

I an in sync with the "aha's". It defintily makes a difference.
Lots of light, love and abundance.
Tish

Aha, this is sooo true , thank you for this post. I think how we look, how our home looks, how our car looks all reflects on what other people percieve us to be.

Thank you for this post.

It brings to mind what a friend of mine told me about how most business is done on a blag.

Take what Bill Gates did for instance. When he convinced IBM he had the perfect operating system for their PC computers, when infact at the time, he had nothing... the rest is history!!

If however the IBM big wigs had been SOGR disciples, perhaps they would have seen the TRUTH dispite the appearances?

Hi Optimist-
Yes, very good post. I've noticed in my salesroom on the days that I'm dressed nicely, I do have bigger sales. This is not true of my husband however. He can climb out of bed in the clothes he wore the day before, toss on a baseball hat, and sell the heck out of my nicely dressed body! But this speaks to confidence. He absolutely knows the product to a "T" and believes in it - he makes it! So I guess I'd add that appearance certainly makes a difference, just be sure that you really believe in what you're doing/selling/being too!
Thanks for your post!
Cheers,
Katie

Hi Optimist,
This is a very good post. Although I work at home I can see such a difference in my day when I take the time to get dressed rather than coming to the computer in bathrobe and slippers.
Katie, I just dropped by your site and took a tour of Peacefulbend. Gorgeous place you have there in Missouri!!
Healthy--Wealthy Blessings to All,
BJ

Thank you guys

A light has been lit for me tonight after reading your posts - i am taking care of most things apart from "my appearance - things will change/improve form this instant!

Thank you and good luck to you all
Al

Well, that "dress for success" stuff might be important for some, but I have a totally different experience.

I generally "work" in my pajamas! (Right now, for example.) And they're nothing fancy either, just comfortable.

I only get "dressed up" when the occasion REALLY calls for it. I'm really not interested in fashion, although my friends tell me I have a good sense of what looks good on me. But I don't go clothes shopping for entertainment; to me that's not particularly fun so I do it generally when I just need to.

(One time new friends were going shopping for shoes and invited me along. Someone who'd known me well and for a LONG time was there and she burst out laughing and said, "Oh, she already has a pair of shoes." It's really true. I don't accumulate stuff much. I love to travel and I tend to travel light -- REALLY light.)

I do know for sure, though, that the "impression of increase" emanates from me without any concern on my part about wardrobe. (I'd rather wear jeans and a simple shirt or sweater than fancy stuff.)

Some people may judge on appearance, but if you have your thinking all lined up you can attract the people you want and the responses you want from those people.

(I just returned from a seminar where both of the multi-millionaire presenters wore jeans and T-shirts both days and one of them was barefoot the whole time. My impression of them? They're both an absolute hoot, having loads of fun doing what they love, sharing their knowledge with others, and raking in boatloads of cash. I like them and I like that!

And lately I have met LOTS of other wonderful, very successful, very RICH people who don't care about dressing for success. It's most interesting.)

I think it comes down to this: If you THINK "clothes make the man" (or woman), then that's true for you. But I'll bet we could come up with scores of examples of people who would impress you and touch your heart powerfully no matter what they were wearing, what kind of haircut they had, and so on. The impression of increase would shine through circumstances.

I did a colour therapy session last year and that was sort of about dressing for success, though it was more personalised. I had been to another seminar on it before where it was all about black power suits and groomed hair with court shoes. I tried it for awhile, and while I did look like a business type ready for success, I certainly didn't feel it! I felt and looked like a fish out of water. All that stuff has gone now and I'm back to my own style now which is as far removed from black power suits and sensible shoes as I can get! I'm very aware of what colours I choose to wear as I believe getting the right shade is what can make the difference between looking and feeling energetic and vibrant or drained and and washed out.

But nothing beats jeans, t-shirt and bare feet!

Shannon

I heard some advice once that works for me. When you are starting out, and don't have a lot of money to buy nice clothes especially for business you should buy half as much that costs twice the price. Now I know that just because you paid more money for clothing doesnt mean that's its any better or even looks any better, but that's not the case most of the time - you get what you pay for.

With that being said I'm a tshirt and jeans kind of guy, but when it comes to buying suits, dress shoes etc.. I try to buy the stuff I think looks the best on me regardless of the price.

My way of standing out is making my own clothes! I'm guaranteed to never been seen wearing something someone else is in and I've always gotten more positive comments when wearing my own stuff than wearing something I've bought.

As much as I think looking successful comes from the inside rather than the outside, I do value making an effort with my appearance when I go out whether its just out to do the groccery shopping or for a night out. Its amazing what a difference a great outfit you really love makes to the way you feel. One thing I've been trying to do lately is to make sure I'm not going around looking like I just dragged myself out of bed. My piano teacher remarked a few days ago on me wearing a nice outfit including shoes so it shows I must have been a little daggy sometimes!
But than she said its because its Spring here and we're all shedding our winter coats and coming out in full bloom!

Shannon

Thank you for those reassuring words Rebecca.

I hate shopping for clothes, I just don't feel comfortable in the latest fashion, because I feel it will be out of fashion by the time I leave the shop and anyway I'm too old for fashion.

I am in the pet/aquatic trade, and if you "over dress" in fancy suits, people don't trust you. They believe more of what you say about your business and the products you sell if you look more like one of them.

If you come to work in a suit, you are obviously not prepared to get down on your knees and stare at the fish in the pond. Or roll up your sleeves and examine a fish in a tank etc.

If you are all in "fancy dress" they think of you as a sales person, not a fellow trader. This often is quickly followed by a "no thank you, I'm too busy."

Where as if you are dressed more as they would think appropriate then they may ask questions like "Have you seen this fish here, do you know what's wrong with it, and do you have anything to cure it?"



This also reminds me of a tale I heard some 25 years ago of a local business man, who made/sold concrete garages. He was very successful and at the time was a leader in this field.

He got a big contract to errect several garages in a tourist area of England. But unlike many business executives this man was hands on. He was there in the dirt with the boys as he delegated the work.

After a very successful morning with all his lads working hard he offered to take them all to a good pub for lunch. He was going to buy as an act of gratitude for all their hard work.

The pub however would not serve them as they were not dressed accordingly. They were given 10 minutes to leave the premises.

A few months later this man returned to the pub dressed in his business suit, with his solicitor, and the bosses of the brewery who owned the pub. "you don't recognise me do you?" He said to the bar man.
"last time I came here you were rude to me and gave me just 10 minutes to exit. I am a little more polite. I will give you 7 days." He had bought the pub from the brewery.

I will be interested to see what others have to say about this dressing for success.

Love and success to all.

Gwen

What a nice thread!

Generally I love orange and like to wear orange fabrics. I don't really like jeans that much because I feel it's become a sort of uniform for the people. I like to individual and bright. I must admit though that when I'm not sure what to wear when meeting some one the first time I wear a plain black suit with a bright orange blouse.

But yeah success comes from the inside. We organised the event for Richard Bransons Launch of Virgin Money in South Africa and he's also a fun and jeans guy. See it here

quote:

I'm too old for fashion

Gwen, You are never to old for anything.
Who said?

I do activiities with seniors at an assisted living facility. The oldest turned 102 today and still wears the latest fashions and is dressed sharp. She loves clothes and wears nothing but the best. She just spent $3,000 on an outfit for her birthday.

I saw this thread yesterday and asked her today about what she thought about dressing for success.

Her comment was, "my husband always dressed like a slob, much to my dismay, but he was well respected and extremely successful."

She went on to say that success is a state of my mind first before anything.

Appreciation from the Heart,

Richard De Haven

Great thoughts...I agree with all of you.



I personally believe that one should wear and look how they feel their best.

One of the people that makes my "most admired" list manages and trades over $9 Billion for his clients. His office of 16 people is located in a very modest building in Florida where they wear shorts, sandals and beach shirts regularly.

He has peers on Wall Street who have the "Wall Street Image" and who envy his success.


If wearing nicer clothes and driving a nicer car helps you feel better so that you can better impress your thoughts on the formless substance and increase your faith that your thoughts will form -- I say go for it!!!!