Will you dress for success in your business?

 

What our attire says about our business.

 

 “You only have one time to make a first impression.” That is what I thought about when I read and excellent blog by Sherri Henley "Painter'sCoat" or "Doctor's Coat" Mentality?

It got me to thinking, will I be dressed for success starting 2013 (answer, yes). A more important question is why would any business owner not be dressed for success if success is in fact what we want for 2013?

Below are some of the reason I have heard from clients.

1. “I should not have to dress a certain way to attract a client or customer”

2. “My product /service not my attire will be what my prospective customers will focus on.”

3. “I own the business I can wear what I want and if anyone does not like it then I don’t need their business.”

“I should not have to dress a certain way…….”

1) I was told a long time ago there are two lands of thought. The land of what should or should not be and the land of reality. If we are not able to live in the land of reality than we will not make it far on either land.

What does that mean? As business owners, we “should not” judge or be judged by the way we or others dress or look. (That’s the land of should).

The truth is people are judgmental by nature; we make up our minds about people based on appearances before a word is spoken. We should not judge based on appearance or dress. The fact is, we do judge based on appearance and dress and if we do not accept that fact, our businesses will suffer. (The land of reality).

“My product /service not my attire…….”

2) Based off the fact that we prejudged, our products or service will never see the light of day if our appearance is not professional enough to have someone willing to hear our pitch or elevator speech.

 “I own the business I can wear what I want………”

3) Indeed we own the businesses; we have rights as business owners however, we also have a responsibility to give our clients what they want. For if we don’t then we will not be in business long.

What do our clients / customers want or even expect from us in the way of attire?

• They want us to look like we know what we are doing.

• They want to be able to take us seriously.

• They want us to look like we are already successful.

• They want us to look like we know where we are going.

The fact of the matter is that we will not be able to get around making a bad first impression with a less than adequate professional appearance. Dressing like a professional will tell your client / customer the following:

• We are confident

• We are worth what we charge

• We are organized

• We are sharp (not just in looks but IQ as well).

Think about it. What message are we sending with our attire. Is it the message we want to send and most importantly does our attire attract the widest ranges of clients/customers or does it narrow the field. Customers and clients vote for us with their dollars. The more appropriate the attire the more dollars we will see in our bank accounts. I welcome your thoughts on the topic.

Will your New Year’s Resolution for your business Stick or Fail?

A better solution than a Resolution

  

This is the time of year when most of us start thinking about our new years resolution for our businesses.

Whether it is starting a new business or improving the processes of the current businesses, resolutions play a key part for many of us.

Resolutions are elusive and dangerous especially for a business. Why?

  Think back to the times when you or someone you knew made a new year’s resolution and did not stick to it. Think about how it made you or them feel.

We have to go no further than our local health facility to see what takes place every January. The gyms are filled with people that have every intention of getting fit. By the time March of the same year arrives the gym is back to the normal levels of dedicated members with only a few additional committed people. Statics show on average, 26% of the New Year’s resolutions are achieved. That means there is a 74% failure rate. That’s not encouraging at all.

  To me it seems like a New Year’s resolution is like a wish instead of a catalyst to kick start something great for the New Year. 

Resolution: (from resolve)

1. A formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a   legislature, a club, or other group. Compare concurrent resolution, joint resolution.

2. A resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

3. The act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

4. The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

Resolve:

to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something): I have resolved that I shall live to the full.

  Based on the definition, a resolution can be looked at as a “made up mind” if you will. The challenge with this is a made up mind does not lead to action.    How many times have we decided to quit smoking, exercise more or get our finances in order (to name a few), only to succumb to the same comfortable routine that lead us to have the "made up mind" in the first place?

To me resolutions can be a trap.  

Why do I feel that resolutions are traps?

• They are normally made “in the moment” without a plan
• A future date is set thus creating pressure and stress with anticipation of the start date.
• Allows for time and excuses not to follow through or even start the stated New Years resolution.

If New Year’s resolutions are traps what is a better solution?

A better solution is to set goals before the New Year starts.

Goals:

The result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.

 Synonyms
1. target; purpose, object, objective, intent, intention. 2. finish.

What are some of the advantages to setting goals vs. making a New Year’s resolution? 

• Gives us direction and something to aim towards?
• Allows for focus
• Offers guidelines
• Promotes action

  How should we set goals for the New Year?

Get started immediately. Devise a plan to promote action thus creating momentum heading into the New Year.

  Where should we start? I was always taught there has to be a reason why we do anything. If there is no reason why, nothing gets done. Without a reason why, it is easy to quit when faced with roadblocks setbacks and obstacles. Establish a WHY.

If a business is established, revisit the reason why. If applicable add additional reasons why. Go over goals, milestones and accomplishments from the previous months. Look for opportunities for improvements and implement those into the New Years goal.

Share your goals with a trusted and supportive friend or family member, this will promote accountability.

Do some research!

Find the most successful individuals in your field and study them. Read as much information on them as you can. Subscribe to their newsletters, link to their blogs and if possible get on their email list. Why?

We assimilate those in which we most associate. To put it simple, If they are the most successful people in their industry and we do what they did we will have what they have. The most important is don’t give up and don’t quit.  Should we be so brave to follow these steps and dare to follow our dreams we will find that our New Year will be rewarding and fulfilled. Happy New Year and please share your goals for the New Year.