Did you know that humans think visually! The saying "I hear what I see" is true. A UCLA study proves that 85% of all decisions are made with our eyes. The 3 areas of personal presence that we would be smart to pay closer attention to are the visual, verbal, vocal ones. What's most interesting is that these signals are far from equally weighted - the visual component having the most impact.

Whether you like it or not, the image you project affects other's decisions as to your intelligence, character and ability and further determines whether or not they want to do business with you. People notice ....AND they immediately place you somewhere on a scale. You rank only as others perceive you. The way you dress (and act) has a remarkable impact on the people you meet professionally and socially. This greatly affects how they treat you. Clients have told me that they have lost promotions, that deals have fallen through, memberships were denied and friends have disappeared because they dismissed the importance of personal packaging (their personal brand).

If your personal brand (image) is not professional and congruent, attractive and attracting you will be passed over - guaranteed. Therefore, to be competitive, to have a greater influence on others, attract more business and be more successful, it's critical that you pay greater attention to "personal branding" (image). Before you sell anything...... your product, company or service, you need to sell yourself first.

Take large, successful companies for instance. They understand the power of "branding" (the imaging) of a product. They spend a lot of time, money and energy to create "a brand" that is eye catching and appealing enough to sell the product through to market. It has to be the same with us.

Have you ever thought of yourself as A COMPANY OF ONE? How much time, money and energy have you spent in developing a "personal brand" that is unique enough to sell through to your market? Chances are you haven't even given it a thought- Right! Perhaps, like many of my clients, you too, will dismiss "personal branding" as frivolous, fluffy and superficial until you, like them, hit a brick wall, lose business, that big contract or the next promotion.

Perception is reality. Unfortunately, we all make snap judgments about others in the first 10 seconds. (I admit I do tend to judge a little harsher than most, after all that's my business).

Perhaps like many of the individuals I work with, you have not even thought about how you are being perceived. Can anyone leave something as important as their most valuable asset to chance? I think not?

By now you are paying attention and thinking that maybe there's something to this. Maybe you are feeling a little overwhelmed and asking yourself where would I begin? It's simple. Like anything else, there is a beginning, a middle, and an end. The first step is to start on a fact finding mission with a personal brand assessment. Then, following the initial session, step into the bigger picture and move forward developing an action plan and determine scheduling.

We know that in the current economy, competitiveness has increased dramatically. 911 brought us a wake up call. Business has become more serious and conservative since - not only in attitude and business attire (the suit has returned to corporate American) but in etiquette and manner as well. Companies are hiring us to train their employees in the fine art of manners, business etiquette, dining and appropriate dress. Even though intelligence, experience and education count, they tell us they are simply not hiring those who do not possess these all important "soft" communication skills. It is the whole package that counts.

The hallmarks of successful individuals in a fast paced global marketplace are their confidence, manners and poise. Mediocre is dead ------and it's about time. It's no longer acceptable to dress inappropriately or do business with the wrong fork. There is a return to formality, elegance, manners and sophistication. It's evident in what's happening all around us. People are getting dressed up again and dining in fine restaurants. We are entertaining clients and being entertained as well.

It's been my experience that when an individual understands the power of "perception" that individual will make the changes necessary to ensure that he or she communicates more effectively through the power of his/her "personal brand". We all know that when we look good ...we feel good! It's only natural that we will attract more of what we want in our lives. Be a smarter marketer ....to attract the best, you need to be the best!

{Source: www.hr.com}