Why Your Clothes Matter
Scenario: "Dude, we can dress however we feel like it. Yay!" You know the deal:
- "We're a startup; we can dress as wacked as we want!"
- "Hey, I'm working at home. My PJs work fine."
- "It's a waste of time dressing, when we could be working!"
Yet, what you might not know: You increase your chances of doing sloppy/sad/tired work when you dress sloppy/sad/tired. Dressing well 'tricks' your brain to work better by enlivening your subconscious to kick mutha-!@#$%^ ass.
How Dressing Well Rocks
Dressing to impress enforces good symbolisms that make you perform at your best. Think of it this way:
Your PJs + You
- You wear your PJs at night when you're watching TV.
- You start symbolizing your PJs with relaxation, leisure, unimportance, yadda.
- That subconsciously compelling you to experience "relaxation, leisure, unimportance, yadda" when you're in those PJs.
Now, compare what you'd wear on a first date:
Your First Date Clothes + You
- Unless you're too-cool-for-skool, you'd likely "dress to impress."
- You symbolize those clothes with success, peak performance, and being at your most kick-ass self.
- Your "first-date" clothes subconsciously compels you to perform at your best.
El Rule of Thumbo
- If you dress sloppy, you'll likely do sloppy work.
- If you dress kick-ass, you'll likely do kick-ass work.
"Why-Oh-Why?"
According to Harvard Medical's Alice Domar:
Although it may seem counterintuitive to slip into the skirt you save for special occasions, it helps to look in the mirror and see an energizing image ' not a deflating one that confirms and reinforces your internal state. Dressing for success will give you a big mental boost every time you catch sight of your reflection throughout the day.
"But, What If I Hate Suits?!"
"Dressing well" doesn't just mean suits and ties. It's whatever makes you perform at your best. In other words, instead of thinking what will impress others, start thinking:
- "What clothes impress me?"
Once you start loving what you wear, you'll increase your confidence to perform.
Kick ass and take names by dressing to impress yo-self.
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6 Comments
on Why Your Clothes Matter
Charlie
2007-07-04 00:37:18 UTC
So true. Most of us are unaware of it and should realize this mistake.
Logically, it's better not to dress up, especially if we work at home in order to save time. But with the reasons stated on the post, it's better to dress up, not just for fun, but for better performance.
Howie
2007-07-04 19:14:40 UTC
I agree. If we are too lazy to dress up even if we work at home, it shows that we are not ready to work. We've seen how excited applicants and employees on their first day. Their behavior suggests that they are willing and ready.
jides
2007-07-05 00:22:38 UTC
I total agree with all that is said here and I believe that does affect us all
Norbert Mocsnik
2007-07-05 06:40:28 UTC
I agree 100%. It's not only about dressing, but being prepared to work in general, which may consist of many small things like:
- a morning shower
- dressing
- breakfast
- a coffee
- preparing water to drink while working
- sitting down conveniently
- turning on some cool music, preferably instrumental
- preparing a sketch pad in the front of the laptop
- consciously deciding to spend the next some hours there (physically and mentally)
That's when I enter the state of flow, almost automatically, all the time.
jakew : Throwing the BS card down
2007-07-05 09:46:28 UTC
[...] I love Trizle. They are the kick ass. Usually. This time though I think they missed. [...]
Declan Chellar
2007-07-06 01:38:19 UTC
Last year I was preparing for a series of interviews so I bought a new suit, shoes, shirt and tie. My first inteview was on the phone, but I still dressed up in my new kit. My friends were perplexed.
My explanation: "It's a mind-set."
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