I may be dating myself with this article and I know many younger workers will not agree with my premise. Years ago John T. Molloy wrote a best-selling business book, Dress For Success, which I believe is out-of-print. The theme of the book was dress for the job that you would like not the one that you have.
 
I’ve counseled a number of younger workers about their business career. One piece of advice that I always provide is to upgrade their wardrobe.  I’ve heard the same response many times, “It’s not how I look; it’s what I know and do.”  I usually respond by saying, “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’" (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV) My point is that most people do look at outward appearances.

We all have weaknesses. Some are more serious than others. For each of us the key is how we learn to compensate for these weaknesses to become overcomers through Christ rather than allow our weak points to defeat us.

Paul spoke to this when he wrote, “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9, NIV) This passage demonstrates how Paul, in spite of his incredibly effective ministry, experienced weaknesses which the Lord helped him overcome.

Frequently I receive questions I prefer not to answer immediately.  Sometimes it is because I believe I need more background information before I answer the question. If I answer the question without background information, I could turn my prospect off and lose the opportunity to connect further. On the other hand, I don’t want a prospective client to think I am dodging the question.

When I was a student I tended to want background noise to help me study. For some reason I thought music or the television would enhance my productivity. While my grades were okay, in retrospect I see this was a major mistake. Today I am unable to function effectively without quiet time. I intentionally shut out distractions including emails, phone calls, and other noisemakers. I make a choice either to cut out distractions or suffer unproductive time.

If my personal preference dictated my clothing for the day, I would wear jeans and a T-shirt, except in the winter when I would put on a heavier shirt. This works fine in my home office; but when I meet with clients and prospects, I generally wear business casual. For me this means good slacks and a collared shirt. Sometimes I might wear a jacket and tie because it seems more appropriate. Other times I may slip into a slightly more casual shirt. My goal is to dress at least one level above the person I meet with.