Why are Chipmunks Cute and Mice Repulsive?

Perception, mostly perception. Chipmunks scurry around outside living in wooded areas, feeding on nature. Mice are pests because they burrow into walls and attics looking for nesting materials, food and leave their nasty droppings where we live. So, for many of us, chipmunks are cute, and mice are repulsive.

There is likely a similar number who keep mice and chipmunks as pets. This selection is also a matter of perception by the owner. In the business world, perception is 90% of reality, not a matter of personal choice.

There is an old adage that you only get one chance to make a first impression. I agree with that statement, and I certainly have my own pre-programmed proclivities that cause me to categorize people based on first impressions. That perception can be their looks, their voices, or the words they use. These filters are based on a lifetime of meeting individuals and evaluating if my first impressions were validated over time. I am sensitive to my own prejudices and attempt not to make my immediate impression a filter for whether or not to continue dialogue with a person.

We are very much in control of how we are perceived, especially on first encounters. If you show up to pitch a product to an established company with dreadlocks and cargo pants, your chances of success are very low. This does not mean your personal lifestyle must be controlled by conventions, but you must dress for success in business. This is another old adage that has maintained its validity over generations.

A well-groomed man or woman with appropriate dress has an immediate advantage meeting new businesspeople. I have a friend who is the consummate networker in our business community. He always is dressed well, even in his golf ensemble. Men and women stand in line to talk to him, which is the second tenet of great perceptions.

When you speak, your dialect and words identify you to the listener. I lived in Texas most of my adult life and there were appropriate drawls and phrases that were commonly accepted, like “how are y’all” and “brought yourself in.” In Silicon Valley, these terms would likely identify you as a Southern hick, on first impressions and lay a foundation that you will have to overcome with the quality of your dialogue.

If you have a very pronounced Middle Eastern, Asian, or African accent that may be difficult to understand in the American business community, you must be aware of how you will be perceived and become aware of your speech versus that of your audience.

Finally, your diction and choice of words will definitely make a lasting first impression. I was teaching a seminar some years ago when one of the participants addressed me as “Yo! Trainer dude.” My first reaction became reality because I really did not want to hear his question or reply to it.

One of my colleagues teaches genuine dialogue. The tenets are first being present. You must, for the time of your conversation with another, be fully engaged in eye contact and letting them know they are the most important person at that moment. The second is active listening. When an idea is expressed, you should repeat your perception back with a phrase like “so what I heard you say was…” Third is confirmation, letting them know you understood their points, whether or not you agree with them.

If you can master genuine dialogue, your first impression quotient will go up dramatically.

Why are chipmunks cute and mice repulsive? It is strictly a matter of perception. Which adjective best describes you?