Dress for Success

This morning I was taking a break between jobs and watching a video from multi-millionaire digital marketer Dan Lok (pictured) that someone had shared on LinkedIn.

I was already familiar with Dan's work, having watched several videos on his "Boss In The Bentley" YouTube channel (that title's no joke - he actually does shoot his videos from the passenger seat of his Bentley as he's being chauffeured around Vancouver!), and I really like the guy. He initially comes across as flashy and arrogant but within seconds your first impression changes as you realize that he's giving great, no-nonsense advice in a persuasive yet non-condescending manner. I even bought one of his audio programs. (By the way, I have no connection with Dan and am not getting anything from him for this post.)

Anyway, in this video he's talking about dressing for success, and what he says is this:

You only become comfortable with success when you believe that this is something that is part of who you are. It's your identity. That's why I tell people, "Dress for success. Dress better, and you'll start seeing yourself in a different way."

I'm known for advising freelance translators to NEVER work in their pajamas, and what Dan says kinda sums up why.

You don't have to be rocking a pinstripe suit at home every day as you punch those keys (that would actually be kinda weird!), but you should at least shower and put on clean, high-quality clothes that are in good condition.

Don't go for what's most comfortable (sweatshirts, jogging pants, slippers, etc.) because remember that staying in your comfort zone all the time is the reason you're not as successful as you'd like to be.

Every time you move, you want to receive a little reminder that you're properly dressed.

And you want to wear something that makes you feel good about yourself (imagine that you are going to have to suddenly leave the house and that you're going to bump into that girl or guy you've always had your eye on), as this will cause a slight shift in your mindset.

You'll begin to FEEL like a successful person - even if you don't actually interact with anyone for the entire day.

And this will also improve your work approach and the quality of your work itself.

It's not just your clothes, either. You should also ensure your hair looks good and that your teeth are brushed and flossed.

You need to be feeling like a winner from first thing in the morning, because if you don't, you won't be winning that day.

If you just roll out of bed and start typing in your pajamas with stinky breath and your hair looking like there are birds nesting in it, you'll be subconsciously feeling like a sloppy, worthless loser, and you'll probably spend the rest of the day losing because of it.

Healthy eating and exercise is also crucial.

You could be dressed like James Bond or Ivanka Trump, but if every time you look down from your computer screen you see a beer belly or thunder thighs, you're not going to be feeling like a winner.

Looking sharp at home from early morning also saves time later if you need to go out for something.

You'll be giving off a confident, professional vibe as you interact with people in your community (potential customers, business partners, etc.)

The importance of this cannot be overstated.

Image is everything.

You could be the most skilled and qualified translator in the galaxy, but if you're unkempt and overweight, that won't count for anything.

The people you meet will think, "If this person can't even take care of themselves, why would they be able to take care of my translations?"

A good rule of thumb is to maintain (there should never be much room for improvement) the best body that you can given your age and genetics and to dress a bit better than everyone else around you.

So if you go to a barbecue and everyone's in T-shirts and flipflops, you want to be wearing smart sneakers and a polo shirt (if you're a man).

If you're at a conference and most people are in sports jackets and slacks, you're wearing a suit.

If you're already well known and respected, you can get away with bending these rules, but only then. Steve Jobs used to wear waistcoats and ties. It was only later when Apple was on top of the world that he started showing up for product launches in jeans and a sweater.

For more success tips, check out my popular Amazon/Kindle ebook, 88 WAYS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS A FREELANCE TRANSLATOR.

Best of luck on your journey.

Matt