Look Like A Winner
Stop for a moment and answer this question, "what does your image communicate about you?" If you need to, go stand in front of a mirror and change the question to, "what does my image communicate about me?" Do people make instant judgments about you by what you wear? Yes! We all do it to a certain degree. Sure, we all know about not judging a book by its cover, but it is still done.
During a communication course in college, two friends and I conductedan experiment at a nice men's clothing store at the mall. I didn't shave for a few days, wore my oldest jeans, and a ragged paint stained shirt. My hair was also unkempt. I went into this store and browsed. I looked at the expensive suit jackets, shirts and ties without anyone coming to offer assistance. It did not matter that I had a number ofcredit cards in my wallet and could purchase anything in the store Idesired. My partner entered the store a short while after I did. He was clean cut, shaved, and wearing nice slacks and shirt. Clothes thatcould have been purchased at the kind of store we were shopping. (Ourthird partner was observing and recording what she saw)
My partner had barely entered the store when a salesperson greeted him and asked if he needed assistance. I was still browsing and had not been spoken to. After he told that salesperson he was just looking, another one came up to him and asked if he needed help. I still had not been spoken to. Finally, one of the salespeople asked me if Ineeded help with anything. I'm not sure if they actually wanted to help me or if they were a bit scared of me staying in the store that long. Appearances matter!
Besides the importance of appearance, you must dress appropriately for the circumstances. Would a warrior of yesteryear go off to battle without his armor? Would he leave without his weapons secured in their proper place? Do the members of our armed forces today enter battle without the proper uniform, camouflage, protective gear, and weapons? Of course not!
In my hapkido classes, I let people try the classes out wearing sweats and t-shirts. When asked about the uniforms we wear, I explain that if they like the art and want to continue, then they need to purchase a uniform before the yellow belt test. This isn't just because "I say so." It is practical. I teach the same curriculum I learned while living and training in Korea, with a few additions. The yellow belt curriculum techniques are based on clothing grabs, including attacks of grabbing one's belt. You need to have the proper uniform for me to teach you all of the curriculum techniques and to be able to practice them with fellow students.
When I teach people to discover their warrior's edge outside of the martial/self-defense aspects, it is a combination of life skills,taking action, and getting things done. An important ingredient is looking like a winner. It combines the realization that appearances do matter with the fact that you must dress appropriately for circumstances. If you desire success, the appropriate dress is that of the successful. To be a winner, look like a winner!
Everyone can't look like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Halle Berry,Jessica Alba, or any of the countless other beautiful people out there that are often ranked by popular magazines each year. We can however,be the best that we can be.
Doing this is not just to impress other people. In fact, the greatest benefit of looking like a winner is the affect on you. When you look your best, you feel better about yourself, and when you feel better about yourself, everything you do becomes that much better. Ask yourself if your hair is the best it can be? Is your choice of clothing appropriate? Are you clothes clean? Are they in the best shape they can be in? Are the colors and styles suitable for the circumstances and activity? Pay attention to detail. When you feelproud about the way you look, it will make you more confident and translate into positive actions throughout the rest of your day.
This does not mean you have to spend a lot of money. I recently purchased a $70.00 pair of Dockers Premium pants at ROSS for 9.99. They were my size, were in perfect condition, good color, and look great. We stopped there looking for something for my little girl, but why pass up such a great deal? Other stores such as Nordstrom Rack and TJ Max also have great deals on nice clothes. The important thing isto do the best with what you have. That way you can stand proud and look good.
Start paying more attention to the image you portray. Do this and more doors will open. Remember, don't do it just to try and impress others. Do it because it makes you feel better about yourself. Do it because it will provide you with more energy to succeed. When you look like a winner you will act like a winner. Do this and you will win more often in everything you set out to accomplish.
Become your own toughest critic. Make it a habit to give yourself a once-over to determine if you really are being the best you can be. Work at improving your image. Do this and your confidence will grow. Become someone you value and others will value you also. Project the right image, that of a winner, and you will not only think and feel like a winner, but undoubtedly become a winner.
During a communication course in college, two friends and I conductedan experiment at a nice men's clothing store at the mall. I didn't shave for a few days, wore my oldest jeans, and a ragged paint stained shirt. My hair was also unkempt. I went into this store and browsed. I looked at the expensive suit jackets, shirts and ties without anyone coming to offer assistance. It did not matter that I had a number ofcredit cards in my wallet and could purchase anything in the store Idesired. My partner entered the store a short while after I did. He was clean cut, shaved, and wearing nice slacks and shirt. Clothes thatcould have been purchased at the kind of store we were shopping. (Ourthird partner was observing and recording what she saw)
My partner had barely entered the store when a salesperson greeted him and asked if he needed assistance. I was still browsing and had not been spoken to. After he told that salesperson he was just looking, another one came up to him and asked if he needed help. I still had not been spoken to. Finally, one of the salespeople asked me if Ineeded help with anything. I'm not sure if they actually wanted to help me or if they were a bit scared of me staying in the store that long. Appearances matter!
Besides the importance of appearance, you must dress appropriately for the circumstances. Would a warrior of yesteryear go off to battle without his armor? Would he leave without his weapons secured in their proper place? Do the members of our armed forces today enter battle without the proper uniform, camouflage, protective gear, and weapons? Of course not!
In my hapkido classes, I let people try the classes out wearing sweats and t-shirts. When asked about the uniforms we wear, I explain that if they like the art and want to continue, then they need to purchase a uniform before the yellow belt test. This isn't just because "I say so." It is practical. I teach the same curriculum I learned while living and training in Korea, with a few additions. The yellow belt curriculum techniques are based on clothing grabs, including attacks of grabbing one's belt. You need to have the proper uniform for me to teach you all of the curriculum techniques and to be able to practice them with fellow students.
When I teach people to discover their warrior's edge outside of the martial/self-defense aspects, it is a combination of life skills,taking action, and getting things done. An important ingredient is looking like a winner. It combines the realization that appearances do matter with the fact that you must dress appropriately for circumstances. If you desire success, the appropriate dress is that of the successful. To be a winner, look like a winner!
Everyone can't look like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Halle Berry,Jessica Alba, or any of the countless other beautiful people out there that are often ranked by popular magazines each year. We can however,be the best that we can be.
Doing this is not just to impress other people. In fact, the greatest benefit of looking like a winner is the affect on you. When you look your best, you feel better about yourself, and when you feel better about yourself, everything you do becomes that much better. Ask yourself if your hair is the best it can be? Is your choice of clothing appropriate? Are you clothes clean? Are they in the best shape they can be in? Are the colors and styles suitable for the circumstances and activity? Pay attention to detail. When you feelproud about the way you look, it will make you more confident and translate into positive actions throughout the rest of your day.
This does not mean you have to spend a lot of money. I recently purchased a $70.00 pair of Dockers Premium pants at ROSS for 9.99. They were my size, were in perfect condition, good color, and look great. We stopped there looking for something for my little girl, but why pass up such a great deal? Other stores such as Nordstrom Rack and TJ Max also have great deals on nice clothes. The important thing isto do the best with what you have. That way you can stand proud and look good.
Start paying more attention to the image you portray. Do this and more doors will open. Remember, don't do it just to try and impress others. Do it because it makes you feel better about yourself. Do it because it will provide you with more energy to succeed. When you look like a winner you will act like a winner. Do this and you will win more often in everything you set out to accomplish.
Become your own toughest critic. Make it a habit to give yourself a once-over to determine if you really are being the best you can be. Work at improving your image. Do this and your confidence will grow. Become someone you value and others will value you also. Project the right image, that of a winner, and you will not only think and feel like a winner, but undoubtedly become a winner.
posted by Alain @ 12:47 PM
1 Comments:
At 1:57 PM,
KickinFamily said…
Great post!
One comment to add... Here in Wal-Mart land, it's well-known that Sam Walton typically drove around in the same ol' beat-up pickup with his dog Ol' Roy in the front seat, with Sam sporting beatup coveralls, jeans, work shirts, etc. It just goes to show that sometimes appearance just doesn't matter... :)
- Bert E
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