LITTLE ROCK — Surprise! Surprise! This week I am happy to reprint for you an e-mail I received from a reader. His words echo what I so firmly believe and have been writing and lecturing about for years.
“I always look forward to our Sunday paper to read your articles. I’ve always told my son and those who worked for me that ‘If you want to make a million, you have to look like 2 million, and knowledge is power.’ Those two things will help you be successful.
“I retired from the Marines in 1990 and went to work in Arkansas. Not many Hispanics lived there, but I realized that I had to dress for success and speak English fairly well. I had prepared myself for civilian life by buying three suits, one a navy pinstripe, one a charcoal, and one tan or olive with shirts that I could wear with all three suits. Also, three pair of shoes: one cap-toe and one dark brown lace-up, plus one black slip-on dressy shoe. I do value and am glad that, as a Marine, we were taught how to dress and to be prepared for any situation.
“Well, I retired from the Marines and went to work for a radio station selling commercials. I bought a Montblanc pen (pawn shop) plus a nice watch. When I first went out on sales calls my sales manager (young hip person) said that I would never make it dressed in a suit, shined shoes and short haircut. In less than five months, with no experience at all, I was billing in the top two and had been called by a cable company to work for them.Once, when I was at a business-after-hours Chamber of Commerce event (network, network, network!), two men approached me. One of them said, ‘We were observing how well you speak and how comfortable you are with people plus your confidence. You must be doing quite well wearing such expensive clothing and accessories,’ (meaning my pen/ watch). I was wearing a suit that I had bought on sale (100 percent wool Hart Schaffner Marx), white starched shirt (learned that from the Marines), and spit-shined shoes with a red power tie. At the time I was earning $1,000 a month plus commissions. I learned from that experience and ever since: I always dress up no matter where I am.
“I became quite successful, moving up from an account executive to VP of sales for a television station.I now own my company and still get compliments on how well I dress. Recently, I was giving a sales presentation at a university and the [human resources] person said theycould not afford me by just looking at my wardrobe and accessories.
“I apologize for the long email. Enjoy your advice and articles.”
That, pretty much, says it all. From time to time, I am going to reprint some of the e-mails I receive that help to emphasize the importance of dressing well and looking good. So, please feel free to write to me.
Send questions for Male Call to:
lois.fenton@prodigy.net
High Profile, Pages 54 on 10/23/2011