We have all heard of the value of making a positive impression when meeting someone for the first time. It only takes a few seconds for someone to evaluate you. This opinion is usually based on your demeanor, mannerisms, body language, speech, and appearance, but it’s even more than that.

When you meet new people and enter into new relationships, what do you notice? Do you notice the clothes they wear in different settings? Do you notice the first email they send you? Do you notice the amount of time it takes them to respond to your first email or phone call? Do you notice how they interact in the first meeting you’re in together? The fact is, you intuitively notice many things that, when combined together, form your opinion of them…read more

Author: Danielle Cearbaugh (Todd Smith’s daughter)

Did you know that a smile is contagious? It costs nothing to give, but reaps great rewards for both the receiver and the giver.

A Smile Spreads Good Cheer

Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”

It’s amazing that your simple smile can brighten someone’s day in a moment’s notice. Too often we underestimate the power of a smile. Although it may be considered the smallest act of caring and it takes little or no effort on our part, it has the power to turn a life around—in fact more than one. Like the ripple effect of a pebble tossed into a pond, your smile will spread far beyond the first person who receives it. You never know how many people will benefit because you smiled first…read more

Everyday we meet with groups of people socially and professionally. How we interact plays a large role in the impressions we create. Are we taken seriously or do people discount what we say? Does people’s respect for us grow or would they prefer not to be around us any more? Once again, you are in control.

Following these tips will give you a leg up in your next group meeting or social event.

1.  Dress consistently with how you want to be viewed-—You may think that dressing for success is an overused phrase or your attire really doesn’t matter. But IT DOES. Remember you are marketing a product and that product is YOU…read more

I read a study a couple years ago that indicated people make a decision about the trustworthiness of a website in less than one second. Yes, I said less than one second. Think about it. How long does it take you to form an initial opinion of a website? Is it one second, two seconds or five seconds?

Just as people quickly form an initial opinion of a website, they also are quick to form an opinion of us. After all, do you notice how people look, what they are wearing and how they comb their hair? Whether you acknowledge it or not, you are a forming a mental picture of this person within a short amount of time.

First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions

How we look plays a significant role in our overall brand, but it is especially important in the business world.

The first impression you make on people creates a lasting impression. In fact, if you fail to make a positive first impression, you may never be given a second chance. This is especially true when going on a sales call or a job interview. Just as your smile, handshake, eye contact and ability to remember someone’s name are components of an initial first impression, so is your appearance….read more