by DANNY KING & KENNY KING IV
By now, you Haven readers have a pretty good sense of who we are and what we do. You’ve watched us and our business grow as we’ve further developed ourselves and our brand. One thing we realize we may have skimmed over is the LIFE piece of the word “lifestyle.” We address the style piece all the time; however, the life piece of the puzzle is an equal player.
In the last few months, we have found ourselves identifying and prioritizing some specific things that we realize some people may not understand, or may take for granted. Some of them are incredibly basic…but that does not make them less important. All of us need a reminder now and again.
The reality of business, regardless of what it is, is that you are always in the business of relationships – building them, growing them, and maintaining them. For us, this includes (but is not limited to) networking groups and events, conversations at social or work functions, and meetings with clients and interactions with their families or their colleagues. And all of those relationships start with an initial, first impression.
First impressions are a funny thing. We all cast judgments upon those we meet for the first time…yet, most of us would be in agreement, that people should not be judged based on initial, superficial things. Guess what? People are judgmental. You are. So are we. And we’ve been wrong before. In fact, we met one of our favorite clients who, after initial meeting, we looked at one another and shook our heads, “We’ll never work with him.” You’ve been wrong too; but that’s life. So…we agree that first impressions are a thing, fair or not, and they matter whether you like it or not….so, why would you do anything that would contradict the message you’re trying to send? If dressing up a little nicer than your sweatpants and Minnesota Wild jersey is going to yield a better first impression, suck it up and do it.
By now, if you’ve been reading our, or other, columns here at HAVEN, you have the tools to do this. Haven is a gold mine of knowledge. Use us, and the publication as your tools. Earlier, we mentioned we are always evaluating ourselves and what we’re doing – identifying what remains important as we continue to build our business and brand. We work in the clothing business, but we realize that, while important, what we are wearing isn’t where it ends. Here are some of the things we’ve been identifying as crucial as we (all of us) are always in the “business of relationships.”:
-Dress the part: this is where what you wear MATTERS. Don’t give yourself a hurdle you already need to clear before you’ve even opened your mouth. If you know you’re going to need to apologize for the ironic tee and jeans with a hammer-loop, don’t leave the house wearing them.
-Make eye contact. We’ve been in many conversations, thinking to ourselves “what are they looking at?” This is a fine line, though, because you don’t want to make such intense eye contact with someone that they’re looking over their shoulder as they walk to their car, in anticipation of you murdering them. It’s a balance, and you need to read your recipient, and figure out what works for them and you.
-Don’t drink too much. If you’re at a function at which you are having opportunities to pitch yourself, you’re working. No one wants to work with, hire, or refer the inappropriate, drunk, handsy guy who just mis-stepped and spilled his 6th house Pinot all over his pants.
-Master the handshake. If I want a dead fish in my hands, I’ll visit Seattle’s Pike Place market. That seems to be just about the only place where that’s appropriate. A firm handshake shows confidence and authority and will only help you establish your presence, wherever you are.
-Embrace small talk. We know, no one likes it…and it’s awkward for all of us. That’s not a topic or funny conversation starter. What is a good topic is the concise, less than one-minute “pitch” that you’ve practiced, perfected, and can recite at a moment’s notice…you know the one – the answer to “…and what do you do?” You should DEFINITELY have a prepared answer because you’re going to be using it many times at each function you attend. You never know who is on the receiving end of this “pitch.” Take control of it.
All of these mentioned skills are tools in your arsenal that you will be using often…and they will help you stand out, and establish your image in a positive way. As our mentor says, “make a lasting impression.” And we’d like to add, “…a POSITIVE lasting impression.”
Danny King and Kenny King are owners of King Brothers Clothiers in Minneapolis. Follow them on their very popular Instagram here.
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