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Think and Grow Rich test: Are you careless about your appearance?

October 7, 2009 by JD
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure 

My answers to the Think and Grow Rich Self-Assessment Test

Recently, I was reminded of the self-assessment test in Napoleon Hill’s best-selling book, Think and Grow Rich.

There are fifty-four questions in that test, and I’m going to be giving my answers and thoughts on one or two of them as close to daily as I can manage. I may miss a day here or there, but I’m going to follow through until I reach the end of the test.

I’ve started the series of posts with:

Think and Grow Rich self-assessment test

Question Number 16. Are you careless about your personal appearance?

Anyone who looks at me knows the answer to this question.

Yes, I am.

I prefer to dress very casually and don’t spend much time getting haircuts and trimming my beard.

I don’t enjoy dressing up and I haven’t owned a suit for decades.

This has caused me problems in the past, but what isn’t obvious is that I do this for a purpose.

Part of it is based on my personal comfort and part is a reaction formation based on people I knew when I was younger and just getting started with computer consulting.

It was about that time that Dress for Success was published and I never liked that book or the attitude behind it.

I also met lots of other people who presented themselves as experts and dressed the part. The problem arose when I realized that well over half of them made a good first impression, but weren’t able to deliver the goods they promised when it got down to the technical issues and the skills they said they had.

At the time, when consulting, I normally wore a suit and I was driving a silver Lincoln Continental. Eventually, I traded in the suit and tie for jeans and sweatshirts and sold the Lincoln and went back to driving a pick up.

While I don’t present as good a first impression, I know that I have a lot of depth in several areas and I can deliver what I promise. My approach, these days, weeds out the people who are oriented to appearance and surface impressions.

People with more depth are able to see past the initial impression and these are the people I enjoy working with.

I’m sure most people will disagree with me on this, and that’s okay with me.

Here’s your chance…

What about you?

Are you careless about your personal appearance?

All the best,

JD

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6 Comments on Think and Grow Rich test: Are you careless about your appearance?

  1. Mitch on Thu, 8th Oct 2009 10:55 pm

    2. On this one yes I am, and I have to say that you can probably get away with it better than I could, John. And we both know why.
    .-= Mitch´s last blog ..Problems Getting Into Google Adsense Account =-.

  2. Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach on Fri, 9th Oct 2009 3:21 am

    3. I dress as my colleagues expect me to dress. In other words, I’m very casual as well…but I do dress up if I’m in an executive setting.
    .-= Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach ´s last blog ..INTENSE Guerrilla Marketing examples =-.

  3. JD on Sat, 10th Oct 2009 11:13 pm

    4. Good evening, Mitch.

    Yes, I understand what you’re saying, but I think there is more to it for me.

    A large part of my being able to get away with it is where I live, in a small town in the mountains of western NC.

    If I were still trying to earn a living in Atlanta, for example, I’d at least have to cut my hair, trim my beard, and wear a tie, even if I didn’t go all the way to wearing a suit.

    Few people around here regularly wear a suit.

    Act on your dream!

    JD

  4. JD on Sat, 10th Oct 2009 11:16 pm

    5. Good evening, Barbara.

    I can’t really argue with what you say. It’s been so long since I’ve been in a real executive setting that I can barely remember it.

    ;)

    Act on your dream!

    JD

  5. Mitch on Sat, 10th Oct 2009 11:36 pm

    6. Hi John,

    I understood what you were saying. Thing is, even if I lived in your area, trying to do what I do, I’d have to dress much differently than you because of who, or what, I am. We just wouldn’t be accepted in the same fashion. Now, if I were doing other things, it’s possible.
    .-= Mitch´s last blog ..GoogleRankings Is Dead; For The Most Part =-.

  6. JD on Sat, 10th Oct 2009 11:50 pm

    7. Good morning, Mitch.

    I agree with you. I’m sad to say that it might even be more difficult for you here than where you live now.

    It’s not right, but it’s the truth.

    All the best,

    JD

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