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Dressing For Success... Stop looking like a fool.

Topics relating to managing people and relationships

GPM

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This thread needs to be bumped, because believe it or not, it is very powerful

Going in to a meeting as the best dressed person, and knowing your stuff. That is power. Being on the ball is all well and good, but when you look the part and look better than everyone else, that demands attention.

When you are swinging for the fences, you must look the part. No one wants to go into massive deals with someone who can't even dress themselves.

Psychologically I am on my game when I look good. I just feel better in my core, and guaranteed that comes across in how my interactions go. All this adds up for the potential for big wins.

And if anyone is wondering, yes I just walked out of one such meeting.
 
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Rabby

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Attire is a type of signaling.

On a daily basis, you'll find me in shorts or jeans, and a t-shirt (the same model t-shirt in like 3 barely-different colors). I'm signaling "just a regular guy."

However, If I am meeting with government, or giving a presentation, or in front of a group of customers or industry people, you'd better believe I am well dressed. Not Brioni or something. Just Jos A Bank or whatever. Respectful, signaling "I don't take you for granted."

Anything else would be stupid. Anything else sends the signal "I don't care about you bozos, whatcha gonna do huh?" If you want to send signals like that, be a shock celebrity, but don't be surprised if smart, powerful people find ways to slow you down.

Just show respect as the culture dictates and connect genuinely with people, and everything is easier... why go against common sense?
 

Amro

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You'd look great if you were a mafioso undertaker from the Jersey Shore about to go to a ridiculous club after work... Not to a business meeting. Still better than the Zuckerberg hoodie.

The biggest problem is not enough contrast between the shirt and suit. The suit is solid black, which, outside of very formal circumstances, can make you look like the help, or an orthodox Jew wearing it for religious purposes. I can almost completely reccommend against buying black unless it is a tuxedo for a black tie event. Shirts need to be ironed. I have the cleaners use starch on the collars and cuffs.

A white shirt and a nice blue or red tie would clean this up and make it very business appropriate, but get yourself a gray or navy suit with very subtle patterning soon if you don't already have one. That would be very versatile.

Unbutton the bottom button and never button it again.

On a 2 button jacket. Unbutton the top button when you sit, rebuttoning it when you stand. Unbutton it when you walk outside on a hot day. Roll unbuttoned to make it a bit more casual if the situation calls for it. I would do it even more often because of the formality of the solid black suit.

Hi @Kak,

Nice subject. Dressing a suit always comes with a tie. Why bother wearing a suit when you fail to wear the tie. In terms of coloring I would always use light colors if I need to sell/convince something/someone. If my task would be to talk to staff members I would choose a black suit with a white shirt and a bordeaux red tie or maybe something else looking good.

Wearing business cloth is vitally important for success and hell I even like it and look good in it ;)

All the best,
Amro
 

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558dbf2069bedd6146daa49b-750-563.jpg


yes, Cuban dress the worst but is also the most successful regarding financial success.

Strange isn't it?

This picture is also a good lesson in body language, which is pretty important when meeting important people. World leaders, top CEO's, and other powerful people most likely have a body language consultant.

Anyway, hands in front of the crotch is a big no-no for guys. It makes you look weak/uncomfortable. Cuban is dressed the worst in that picture, but he also looks the most comfortable.

On topic, Cuban said in an episode that he hasn't worn a tie SINCE selling his company to Yahoo. He also doesn't wear a suit (except on Shark Tank and in a courtroom).
 
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Xeon

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This picture is also a good lesson in body language, which is pretty important when meeting important people. World leaders, top CEO's, and other powerful people most likely have a body language consultant.

Anyway, hands in front of the crotch is a big no-no for guys. It makes you look weak/uncomfortable. Cuban is dressed the worst in that picture, but he also looks the most comfortable.

On topic, Cuban said in an episode that he hasn't worn a tie SINCE selling his company to Yahoo. He also doesn't wear a suit (except on Shark Tank and in a courtroom).

I guess when you're a billionaire and have made it, you probably can get away like Cuban and Zuckerberg.

In the pic above, the way I see it is: "Yo, I'm the only billionaire here, I need a way to stand out from the rest cos' I'm the best. If they wear formal, I'll go casual and if they go casual, I'll go formal".


Not hating but I thought that the goal of the fastlane was exactly to not need approval or things like " dress for success ".

Like MJ mention on Unscripted , if you provide value to people they could care less if you are on a suit.

I remember in Unscripted , there's a part where MJ was sitting in some restaurant with his long shabby hair and he doesn't give a F*ck cos' it's the Unscripted mentality. Something along those lines.
 

Amro

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Not hating but I thought that the goal of the fastlane was exactly to not need approval or things like " dress for success ".

Like MJ mention on Unscripted , if you provide value to people they could care less if you are on a suit.

Hi @raad182,

Your point is true but I guess adding massive value while "acting" serious through socially accepted business suits in the corporate(hyper reality) world will catapult your results if you ask me. People tend to threat me different if I wear a suit.

All the best,
Amro
 
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luniac

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The average person cares less about their body than what's on it lol
 

Kak

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Not hating but I thought that the goal of the fastlane was exactly to not need approval or things like " dress for success ".

Like MJ mention on Unscripted , if you provide value to people they could care less if you are on a suit.

Allow me to steer you to my earlier defense of this concept.

It is in your best interest to do this. You're not doing this for others. Look like a leader not a loser.

Don't wear a suit unless the situation calls for it.

Once again... Not to impress, just to look the part. Impressing and standing out are not the goal. Exuding professionalism is. The more capable you come across, the better the deals you can swing.

You SHOULD ABSOLUTELY CARE about the opinions of the people you are trying to make a deal with. This notion of ”f*ck them” is ridiculous. Once again. It is in YOUR best interest. You're not doing this for them.

This is the last time I defend my position on why it's important. IT IS and those that don't agree are wrong. You cool cats that can't be bothered to look halfway decent because it's beneath you... Good luck... I hope you play the lotto because you can't make real money in a vacuum.
 

Kak

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raad182

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Allow me to steer you to my earlier defense of this concept.

It is in your best interest to do this. You're not doing this for others. Look like a leader not a loser.

Don't wear a suit unless the situation calls for it.

You need to act like a leader not look. The world is already packed with pretenders
 

Kak

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You need to act like a leader not look. The world is already packed with pretenders

Im suggesting you embody leadership entirely. Not pretend.

So everyone who dresses well for business is a pretender now? What is the alternative? Looking like a fool?

Let me ask what kind of experience you have dressed like a loser in meetings?
 

raad182

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Ok... So look like a fool?

Let me ask what kind of experience you have dressed like a loser in meetings?

Its not binary...but if it is to you, I would prefer to dress like a loser and act like a boss rathen than the other way.
 
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Kak

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Its not binary...but if it to you, I would prefer to dress like a loser and act like a boss rathen than the other way.

Good luck with that.
 

raad182

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Good luck with that.

Trust me, I see this on a daily basis but again its not binary as you are stating.
You can dress just " average " and let your actions do the noise.

 

Kak

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Trust me, I see this on a daily basis but again its not binary as you are stating.
You can dress just " average " and let your actions do the noise.

Never made a binary claim. Who are you to demand trust? Why are YOU credible?
 
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raad182

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Never made a binary claim. Who are you to demand trust? Why are YOU credible?

I work at big corp where everyone dress to impress and attend meetings on a daily basis.

MJ nailed it on Unscripted " If a dude dressed like a homeless just discovered the cure for cancer and was selling it to you, would you care about his old sneakers? "

I'm not saying that dressing PROPERLY isn't important but the point with the Fastlane is to dress like YOU WANT because the value you are providing is way more relevant than a $1000 suit.
 

raad182

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SquatchMan

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Trust me, I see this on a daily basis but again its not binary as you are stating.
You can dress just " average " and let your actions do the noise.

Why not dress well AND let your actions do the talking?

I don't see how that would hurt you. You're making it needlessly difficult because of some weird personal dogma against dressing well.
 

raad182

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Why not dress well AND let your actions do the talking?

I don't see how that would hurt you. You're making it needlessly difficult because of some weird personal dogma against dressing well.

Sure, agree. Considering the Fastlane, you should dress as you please (good, bad, well...), my point is that we as " Fastlaners " shouldn't even bother about it.

Why am I here btw lol
 

Kak

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Sure, agree. Considering the Fastlane, you should dress as you please (good, bad, well...), my point is that we as " Fastlaners " shouldn't even bother about it.

Why am I here btw lol

Profound stuff this. Thank you for enlightening us.

My whole world is changed.
 
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Xeon

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GPM

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I'm 27yo, single, south american, currently 9-5 corporate job and don't have any project, plan or business. Im starting from bottom with no money or big ideas.

@Kak is in the boardroom dealing with massive players while building multiple businesses which will be in the 8-10 figure range. Why exactly should we take the advice of someone with no money or ideas, rather than from someone with proven experience?

Fastlane you say? I am not sure how sitting on your computer and shitting on someone giving free advice on how to be successful is in any way even remotely fastlane. Perhaps it would be wise to do more listening and less talking.
 
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biophase

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Ironically if everyone in a meeting is wearing nice suits and a guy walks in wearing a T-shirt, he would instantly polarize himself as either the mailroom boy or the owner of the company and people would probably err on the side of caution and assume he’s the owner.
 

NuclearPuma

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Have you ever dressed up for Halloween and found yourself acting like the character you took on?

I dressed as Batman last Halloween and I just had this urge to do Batman things, talk in a funny voice, swing my cape around, act like some badass....

The urge to act the part just came over me.

That's what made it click for me. That Halloween experience woke me to the fact that I needed to dress in the way that better aligned with the behaviors I want to model and what rung of the social ladder I want to occupy.
 

raad182

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@Kak is in the boardroom dealing with massive players while building multiple businesses which will be in the 8-10 figure range. Why exactly should we take the advice of someone with no money or ideas, rather than from someone with proven experience?

Fastlane you say? I am not sure how sitting on your computer and sh*tting on someone giving free advice on how to be successful is in any way even remotely fastlane. Perhaps it would be wise to do more listening and less talking.

Yeah, sure.
 
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MTEE1985

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@raad182 Would I be correct to assume you haven’t read all 12 pages of this thread? You seem to be commenting thinking that the thread is a “dress for success and success will come” school of thought. It is not.

What it is about is this: in virtually every business situation you could encounter as an entrepreneur you are better off being the best dressed as opposed to the worst.

When you see somebody like Mark Zuckerberg in his jeans and t-shirt, it is not his “I don’t give a sh*t” attitude so much as he has bigger problems so he standardized his outfit.

What MJ is referring to in his book is what we strive for, but for your benefit, do not mistake his “FU” appearance with a blanket idea of “entrepreneurs can dress however they want”

P.s. everything @GPM said above is correct. Kak is too modest to say those things about himself but read some of his gold threads and you’ll quickly see why it’s best to listen to his advice.
 

MTF

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Have you ever dressed up for Halloween and found yourself acting like the character you took on?

I dressed as Batman last Halloween and I just had this urge to do Batman things, talk in a funny voice, swing my cape around, act like some badass....

The urge to act the part just came over me.

That's what made it click for me. That Halloween experience woke me to the fact that I needed to dress in the way that better aligned with the behaviors I want to model and what rung of the social ladder I want to occupy.

A long time ago when I was an inline skater I used to wear baggy sweatpants when skating. I wouldn't say they immediately turned me into a hoodlum, but I was definitely more prone to hoodlum-like behaviors. At the same time, as weird as it sounds, I felt noticeably "looser," as if the bagginess of my sweatpants affected my muscular relaxation.

In comparison, back when I used to wear a suit daily, I behaved in public in a much more formal and distinguished way. At the same time, I definitely felt more constricted and felt as if I were repressing a part of my personality.

Clothes change you, so it's important to be conscious of what you wear and how it affects your behavior and mood.
 

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