Dress For The Job You Want. Not The One You've Got.

My dad, being the clever business man that he was, gave me a genius piece of advice as I was growing up. At the teenage time it felt more wardrobe related than helpful to get my first job, but now I can see that he was definitely a man ahead of his time and it's fast become one of my favourite one-liners to anyone I work with.

Now only was he a sharp dresser himself, he had an opinion about how people presented them selves in all kinds of situations (I may have got this from him ??). Because for him, it said a lot about how the person felt about themselves, and about how much respect they were showing their company and colleagues.

Of course in those days it was strictly suit and tie territory, but that didn't stop him making sure his shoes shone and were well cared for, his tie perfectly suited his shirt and was wrapped correctly, because these touches didn't need money, they needed care and self respect. Two great qualities any company would want in abundance.

What I didn't know at the time, as I'm fairly sure he didn't either, was he talking about having an identity mindset. A way of shifting gears to think about promotions, marathons, partners, 'fill in the blanks' differently. James Clear in Atomic Habits sums it up very neatly when he said in reference to identity mindset, "the goal isn't to run the marathon, the goal is to become a runner" because as soon as you think like the person that's already achieved what you're aiming for, your decisions take shape, your approach shifts as quickly as your mindset, to start behaving like that person already. You're taking on the persona of having already done it. You'll walk a little taller, run a little faster and you'll speak a little clearer with more authority on the subject of interest. And before long you'll be oozing respect and sophistication more than you already were.

When I ran the New York marathon as a previous non runner, I needed that mindset shift more than ever, I happened on that book just at the right time as it helped me get across the finish line. Yet I'd been using that technique my whole career thanks to my dad, from when I was recruiting GM's to run multi million pound venues, if they had scruffy shoes on the first interview, I'd mention it in passing with some humour. If those shoes weren't shined on the second interview it was unlikely they'd get the job. The one time I went against my instincts, the business reflected his scruffy shoes. Instincts are everything, but that's another story for another day.

So how to adapt this into your everyday? Simple. Decide what you're aiming for, and start behaving like that person now. Research what's required to get that job, start that business, fulfil that dream and shift your mindset to towards that goal. And if you can, and it's in your capability, dress a little differently to signal the subconscious shift in mindset. But whatever you decide, please make sure to shine your shoes.