[AUTOSAVED] First Impressions Do Count!

This morning as I was getting ready to go out garage sale hunting I took a second look in the mirror. What did I see? What was the first impression I was giving? I stepped back and thought to myself about the numerous opportunities at my fingertips “¦ I would be shopping, both garage sale and retail and I would even be stopping for a coffee and/or lunch. Here I was in jeans and a t-shirt, clean and tidy certainly, but there was nothing to differentiate me from anyone else, nothing that would lead to a memorable impression. Yes, it is the weekend and yes, I do have the right to be relaxed and comfortable however, being relaxed and comfortable does not necessarily mean that I can’t still leave a positive and lasting first impression.

So, back to the closet I went and asked myself the question ““ what do I wear to promote confidence and professionalism while still being casual and comfortable? Why not slacks instead of jeans, why not a blouse instead of a t-shirt? My footwear also needed to be changed ““ instead of flip flops, I chose to wear casual yet more appropriate sandals. This time when I glanced in the mirror on my way out the door, I was only missing one thing. Once I put the smile on my face and again looked at myself in the mirror, the person looking back at me gave the distinct impression of being comfortable, confident and approachable.

Had I made a conscious decision to “stage??? myself! Absolutely! However this is no false persona or mask that I am wearing ““ this is actually me. For years I described myself by labels ““ housewife, mother, salesclerk, secretary, paralegal. The common question when meeting someone new is, “what do you do???? and the common answer is inevitably a label. Since I have discovered my passion (see Childhood Profile, Adult Career) I can now answer the question “what do you do???? without giving it a label but rather with pride and confidence. Now not only do I present a memorable first impression physically, I am no longer labelling myself with a preconceived notion about what I do from nine to five. Instead, I present an opening to expand upon my passion and in doing so leave that lasting and memorable first impression.

Was it worth it? Did I accomplish what I wanted to today? Without a doubt! I believe that had I shown up as I originally intended to leave the house this morning, I may not have been taken seriously and certainly would not have been remembered. By making a few small changes (although the smile was a biggee!), I was able to present myself with a sense of confidence and assurance. Will this materialize into potential clients? I’m not sure, but one thing I am sure of is that I did leave a lasting first impression.

Cheryl-Anne Priest o/s IS inviting spaces

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