"Who knows what these items are and why they’re important?"
My brother Martin A5kem got close "it's all about that shine on them shoes!" he said.
Well, yes. But how does that apply to life?
The answer is one so simple, yet so many simply don't seem to get it. When I was younger, I would grab a pair of jeans out of the dryer, and throw them on with a tshirt, shoes and socks, and out the door I would go. Not a care in the world. My mother taught me at a very young age how to iron clothes properly, and the minute I had that skillset, she stopped doing my ironing. It was MY responsibility to press my own clothes. Through all of my years in the army, you can ask my SOs from that time of my life, I never once asked them to press my uniform, or polish my boots. Why? They didn't join the army, I did. That's mostly a topic for another post. But also at a young age, my dad set for me a very good example, in that he wore cowboy boots, spared no expense in buying them, but when he got home at night, he would sit in his easy chair, and watch TV, and polish his boots. Those boots ALWAYS looked good! My father's message to me growing up?
"Take pride in your appearance"
But my point in shoe shine is deeper than just that. As an employer, I do an awful lot of judging and in fact, make hiring decisions, based on your appearance. "You can't judge a book by it's cover". TRUE....and when i'm talking about books, i'll address that statement. But i'm not. I'm talking about people. How you present yourself, reflects much about who you are. If you dress like scum, you can expect people to treat you accordingly. If you look like trouble, you'll be assumed to be trouble. Hell, i'm 6'2" and 250lbs, I cast a long shadow and I walk with my head up, my shoulders back and I make eye-contact with everyone I see. People tend to move aside when i'm walking through a crowd. It's also generally assumed that it's likely not a good idea to fuck with me. That would be true as well. Is there more to me? Sure! I'm actually a fairly personable individual, and i'm easy to get along with and talk to (not to be mistaken for being "nice". I'm not). I love to connect with people, ESPECIALLY my fellow veterans (can I get a HOOWAH?!"). But my wrath isn't something that most people want to just incur for sunday fun.
That being said, when I make those judgements in hiring, they begin long before most people realize. I watch out the window. I want to see what you drove up in. I'm not going to judge your 1986 Pinto with the rust spots and the bent fender. What I AM going to judge is which side of the car you get out of. If you're the driver, then while I COULD be wrong, MOST LIKELY you own your own vehicle and that's great. If you get out of the passenger side, it pretty much means you don't own a vehicle, and transportation is likely an issue. Now, that doesn't slam the door on a job interview with me. It merely guides the tone of the interview. I want to find out if it means you're going to be a problem with tardiness, attendance, etc? OR does the fact that you got a ride mean you WANT a job and will do anything to make sure you're there? I watch how you walk. Do you watch around you? Are you aware of your surroundings? Is your head up? Is there a bounce in your step? I want to know if you're a people-person, or an introvert. Are you engaging? How do you behave when you DON'T know you're being viewed? When you come in the door, I look at how you're dressed.
That being said, when I make those judgements in hiring, they begin long before most people realize. I watch out the window. I want to see what you drove up in. I'm not going to judge your 1986 Pinto with the rust spots and the bent fender. What I AM going to judge is which side of the car you get out of. If you're the driver, then while I COULD be wrong, MOST LIKELY you own your own vehicle and that's great. If you get out of the passenger side, it pretty much means you don't own a vehicle, and transportation is likely an issue. Now, that doesn't slam the door on a job interview with me. It merely guides the tone of the interview. I want to find out if it means you're going to be a problem with tardiness, attendance, etc? OR does the fact that you got a ride mean you WANT a job and will do anything to make sure you're there? I watch how you walk. Do you watch around you? Are you aware of your surroundings? Is your head up? Is there a bounce in your step? I want to know if you're a people-person, or an introvert. Are you engaging? How do you behave when you DON'T know you're being viewed? When you come in the door, I look at how you're dressed.
Are your shoes shined?
WHY do I keep on this shoe-shine bit? Because if you are coming to present yourself in hopes of employment, and you're dressed to the nines, but your shoes look like they were shined with a Hershey bar, by Joe Shit the Rag Man, one message jumps out. You DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL. If you can't make sure that your entire presentation of self down to your shoes is at it's peak, then you're not going to pay attention to the details of my business. Why would I want to entrust you with my business, which in essence means my NAME? This applies to life, and love as well. How many relationships have failed because of the small details that were either neglected or not communicated? Let's face it, communication is key in relationships, be they business or personal. If you aren't communicating your needs effectively, then your SO isn't responsible for not fulfilling them. For want of a nail, the war was lost and all that. But if you're watching and paying attention to the details, you can avoid a LOT of relationship and life pitfalls.
At the end of the day, the message is, remember that if you are keeping your shoes shined, you're telling others that you are paying attention to the details, that the details are IMPORTANT to you, and that you take yourself and your responsibilities seriously!
I've said all I want to say on this one.......
