David Mendez

I have no idea what brand of clothes anyone’s wearing, and can’t tell a $5,000 suit from a $500 suit. But the reality is, lots of folks you’re networking with and trying to do business with take notice of what shoes you’re wearing, what brand your shirt is, and how much your watch is worth. Years ago I met a guy who had a very keen eye for this stuff and would look for it right away in anyone he met. He’s very successful, and many people are constantly trying to do business with him - having no idea he’s noticing their wrinkled $80 shirt right away. I have a blind spot to this stuff, but there are countless people who don’t. Whether we like it or not, or even agree it should matter, how other people in the business world perceive the way we dress has a big impact on our success. It’s very expensive reality to overlook just because we may disagree with the premise.