Appearance Matters!
Appearance plays a key role in how people perceive you. How seriously they take you. And how much respect they extend to you. It shouldn’t be the case, but it is. We are all biologically wired to judge a book by its cover because the cover is the first data point we receive, and our minds want to make a decision as quickly as possible.
But there’s more to it than just quick judgment or stereotyping. A person who pays attention to his hygiene and grooming habits can generally be trusted with more responsibilities. It suggests that he is self-aware. A person who takes care of his body and mind can generally be trusted to maintain discipline over long periods.
These are calculated but quick assumptions. They are not an exact science. There is a good chance that a person who is more disciplined in one area of life is also an asshole in other areas of his life. It’s also possible that someone who focuses heavily on himself is excessively self-centred. The point is not to identify these details with a hundred percent accuracy. It’s simply a starting point.
These things are inevitable in real life. The better approach is to learn to take advantage of them.
Always dress well. But don’t overdress. The simple rule of thumb is this: whatever you feel is enough for the occasion or the place, dress one notch above that. Not several notches. Just one.
We often say, in common parlance, “Dress for the position you want to reach.”
A variation of that same expression would be: dress for the person you want to be perceived as.
If you want to be taken seriously, you have to make your presence visibly distinct from those around you. Not so much that people laugh at your choices. In moderation. That’s why a good rule of thumb is to dress just one notch above the usual.
Good appearance is an investment. Instead of wasting your time wondering why the world is this way, start taking advantage of it.