“Ninety-five percent of the time we get treated the way we invite people to treat us.”
I read this in a book or a magazine a while ago, and I definitely agree with this.
You will often be treated according to the image that you project, especially in Europe where people frequently judge you based on your appearance.
Torn jeans (definitely not my cup of tea) might look cool in the US, but if you want decent service anywhere else, don’t show up looking like a Third World refugee.
It is always good to remember that “Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success”. Christopher Lasch
Even if you don’t have a penny to your name, appearance and demeanor matter. Probably even more.
A ready smile and friendly manners will unlock many doors that might otherwise remain shut if you don’t make the effort to be cordial.
But clothes and manners do not totally make the man. You can wear fancy duds and be betrayed by your body language.
In this day and age we communicate with words, but body posture has often a much greater impact than a glib tongue.
A jutted chin, a scowl, hand gestures will often expose the true personality of an individual.
To win hearts and minds you also need to be likable. And it is an elusive quality that few people possess.
If you are not simpatico, it is going to be a steep uphill battle to convince people that you can be trusted.
In political campaigns bravado works up to a point. Some people like bullies but most don’t.
When it comes to choose between a belligerent candidate and a rational individual, smart people will put their money not on a mouth that roars but on a brain that works.
To formulate a sensible opinion, watch less television and read more books and news magazines.
Alain
“The elections are run by the same industries that sell toothpaste on television.” Noam Chomsky
Alas!