SoKy Local Business or "SoKybiz"

Now I'm the last person in the world to give advice on dressing for business. My wardrobe selection snafu list is longer than my memory, perhaps mercifully so. I've used the excuses like, "I'm a travel agency owner so I want to dress the part." Ignorantly assuming that my black logo t-shirt, cargo shorts and flip flops were acceptable in that context. I could cite many "justifiable reasons" for dressing uncomfortably casual at business events like ribbon cuttings, dinners and after hours. Even as recently as yesterday, I attended the ribbon cutting for Hayse shoes in my new polo shirt with the SoKy.net logo embroidered on it with cargo shorts and my fancy flip-flops. (leather.)

In my afternoon scan of the news today, I was slapped in the face with a brutal reality; all the excuses in the world will not forgive the public perception of my professionalism. That's the bottom line.

So what earth shattering revelation had to come to pass to wake me up from my ignorant bliss? It was a story about a billionaire who visited Washington DC to talk to some of the nations lawmakers about a very important issue. It didn't matter that he was incredibly rich; it didn't matter that he had as much influence as money in his industry; it didn't matter that he had something significant to talk about; it didn't matter that he had a very unique insight to the issue currently facing law makers. What mattered was that he came into what some consider the center of the world like an amateur and he was treated as such.

The story? By way of MyWay.com, it is found at marketwatch.com.

Google guy stumbles in D.C.
By Frank Barnako
Last Update: 2:41 PM ET Jun 7, 2006

WASHINGTON (MW) -- Sergey Brin came to Washington this week, dressed like an amateur. Some lawmakers treated him like one, too.

Wearing blue jeans, silver mesh sneakers and a black T-shirt and jacket, according to the Washington Post, the co-founder of Google Inc. (GOOG: news) found out that while he may be a multi-billionaire, he's nobody to some on Capitol Hill. Four Senators passed on meeting with him to discuss Net Neutrality, the newspaper reported. He did talk with four others including Sens. McCain, Smith (R.-Ore.), Dorgan and Obama.

Brin took the rebuffs in stride, saying his visit was kind of spontaneous. "It wasn't very well organized I apologize. It was a last minute trip." Although he did show up in this button-down town dressed more like an airplane maintenance man for, than the owner of, Boeing 767, he shouldn't take all the responsibility for the failure of the slap-dash fly-in.

>> Whole Story here

I am most comfortable casual! Even in my own office at the moment, if I were any more casual I would be asleep. What if someone stopped in? Not likely to happen but it could. Would my appearance affect my ability to capture new business? Would my appearance have an adverse effect on how my responses are received? Would my casual appearance prevent an impromptu opportunity from presenting itself again? I'm thinking yes... you decide.

So thank you Mr. Brin, I'm sorry you were shunned by lawmakers and I'm even more sorry that of all the press your wardrobe ended up the topic instead of the important Net Neutrality topic. If it is any comfort, this "older" non-billionaire businessman has learned from your experience, and it reminded me of my own awkward appearance moments.

I've studied, learned and forgotten the importance of proper dress and appearance in business settings. This reminder will get me back to the store and chose comfortable but dressier cloths so I will be taken more seriously. That said, I subscribe to GQ magazine and I'm a long way from becoming Mr. GQ... if ever. I still don't see the benefit of spending $500 on shirts and $600 for shoes. Even if I had Sergey's money, I doubt I will ever want to fit in with models of GQ. Call me crazy, but sensible clothing that is affordable is what is needed, spending $50,000 on a new wardrobe is simply a waste of money in my opinion.

This was posted by SoKy : 5:46 PM