What would you think if your mechanic came to service your car in a crisp dress shirt and tie?
I recently attended a recruiting event for a network marketing company and the guest speaker; let’s call him Jordan (a six figure earner for the company). Jordan gave an impressive and motivating speech. One of the things he focused on with the group of 40 or so middle class potential “new recruits” was that of their image. As my favorite topic was brought up I looked the room over… again, and I saw many well dressed individuals and a few others who at least made an effort to look professional. Still a few more dressed like they were between the pizza place and the couch for the second half of the big game. I have no qualm with jeans and your favorite shirt, but when attending a possible business venture, really?
Jordan went on to exemplify how important it was to market your self in a professional manner no matter what your service or product. His point was that if you appear to take your job/product seriously then that puts your potential client’s apprehension that much more at ease. I couldn’t agree with “Jordan” more.
Take this scenario as an example…
You walk into “Oil Change America” and you ask for the usual oil change, only instead of a guy covered in grease and wearing the traditional shop gear, a clean cut gentleman wearing a clean white shirt and a tie comes to take your keys. Your first thought would be wow; I must be a valued customer if the shop owner is coming in to change my oil! Right? Or maybe you are pessimist and you think it’s the government, there to plant a gas guzzling device under your hood. My point is simply if you take the time to dress considerably well for anyone whom you are asking something of, they will notice your efforts to be considerate, especially if they work in a field that you wouldn’t normally expect it! Attorneys, CPAs, bankers, BMW salesmen aside, if you work in a business that expects less, why not offer more?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Networking And Your Mechanic
What would you think if your mechanic came to service your car in a crisp dress shirt and tie?
I recently attended a recruiting event for a network marketing company and the guest speaker; let’s call him Jordan (a six figure earner for the company). Jordan gave an impressive and motivating speech. One of the things he focused on with the group of 40 or so middle class potential “new recruits” was that of their image. As my favorite topic was brought up I looked the room over… again, and I saw many well dressed individuals and a few others who at least made an effort to look professional. Still a few more dressed like they were between the pizza place and the couch for the second half of the big game. I have no qualm with jeans and your favorite shirt, but when attending a possible business venture, really?
Jordan went on to exemplify how important it was to market your self in a professional manner no matter what your service or product. His point was that if you appear to take your job/product seriously then that puts your potential client’s apprehension that much more at ease. I couldn’t agree with “Jordan” more.
Take this scenario as an example…
You walk into “Oil Change America” and you ask for the usual oil change, only instead of a guy covered in grease and wearing the traditional shop gear, a clean cut gentleman wearing a clean white shirt and a tie comes to take your keys. Your first thought would be wow; I must be a valued customer if the shop owner is coming in to change my oil! Right? Or maybe you are pessimist and you think it’s the government, there to plant a gas guzzling device under your hood. My point is simply if you take the time to dress considerably well for anyone whom you are asking something of, they will notice your efforts to be considerate, especially if they work in a field that you wouldn’t normally expect it! Attorneys, CPAs, bankers, BMW salesmen aside, if you work in a business that expects less, why not offer more?
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7 comments:
Ross:
This is an excellent topic. I too am amazed at the way people will dress at a Networking Event. Correct me if I am wrong, when you are at a networking event are you not looking for customers, potential customers, and possible referral sources? What does you attire say about you.
I was once at an event talking to a well dressed man, he was a carpet cleaner, no he was not just the owner he actually went out and cleaned the carpet. Standing next to him was a Mortgage Person, he had on shorts, tee shirt, flip flops and looked as if he had just rolled out of bed. Who do you think had the highest credibility, I would not refer anyone to this mortgage guy including myself who was looking to do a refi, but I gave the Carpet Cleaner several quality referrals.
How you show up is important even if YOU think it is not. Because it is not about YOU it is about those around you.
Ross you make a very good point! The first thing I thought of while reading this was Uncle Mark. Uncle Mark as you know owned Moses Automotive and was voted the high class cleanest car garage in the Toledo area. You could walk in and practically eat off the floors. And I am talking about the place that the oil is changed not just the show room. And I know you are talking about clothes but this works the same way. Uncle Mark had the most expensive cars come on because they knew he would take care of their car the way Mark took care of his shop. And doing so I may add resulted in higher priced labor and more profit for the company.
The better the appearance something is, let it be how you look or how a business atmosphere is kept, the better creditability that person or business will have.
Steve Stuck from SI commented:
"I sell motor oil to these garages. If I showed up in a tie and white shirt my sale would be D.O.A. While I wear a polo and jeans, garage shop owners are only there to service the customer and sign for parts coming in/make appts. While in theory it would nice if someone would come out all dressed up, these shops just rely on word of mouth sales and basically a five mile radius that their customers live in."
Michael J. Dukehart II from SI commented;
"It is my belief that casual Friday's have killed professionalism. I absolutly hate wearing jeans into work if requested. I would rather be wearing a suit than that."
Cissi Sherlock from SI commented:
"Funny you should add this!
I had a meeting just this past Monday with a prospect to my organization. The guy was a handyman, yard guy, mechanic and jack of all trades. I spoke to him about personal presentation. Basically, if I am going to market you, you have to look the the role as expected in then new millineum!
It flew over his head like an out of control 747.
After leaving the building, my partner and I surmised "He won't be back."
If he does call me back, I will be surprised."
Jeremy Williams from SI commented:
The old adage rings true "dress for the job you want, not the job you have..."
Great work.
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