About this quote

First impressions and preparation change the stakes before any conversation starts. Looking put together and knowing your stuff both make people take you more seriously. Do a small, concrete thing: choose one sharp outfit and learn one extra fact before an important meeting. Those two moves give you clearer conversations and better chances to shape the next step.

When to use it

• Before a job interview, I put on a sharper suit and reviewed an extra case study so I’d feel ready and look the part.
• On the first day of my graduate seminar I wore a neat outfit and brought an extra textbook, just to show I cared about the work.
• Meeting my partner’s parents, I dressed up and read a little about their interests so I had honest things to talk about.
• At a startup networking night I showed up polished and handed out a short summary of my project — people listened and followed up.