A few years ago I met and individual who was a guest at a networking event.  He was a definite self-promoter always looking for the next way to make money.

At the meeting we were seated together and at some point he turned to me and asked why I was there? Before I could answer, he stated that no one there smelled of money in the group.  I am not sure if I was to be included in that statement, but the way he said it and the subsequent conversation leads me to believe that he assessed that my business was the best of the crowd.  I had a minor smell of money, apparently.

Given the purpose of the networking meeting, these were basically start-ups or sales people looking for an edge in marketing.  So I probably was the best situated of those in attendance.  The whale of the group seldom attended, he had others do the work he just liked to be the center of attention.   I was there for the social media training, this was at the beginning of the major push to get social media into the marketing mix and I was there to learn and not for networking.

A couple of months ago I was at another networking event and I was accompanied by a colleague who had never attended a meeting with this group.  Their comment after the event was that the vast majority of the group appeared to be from struggling businesses, based upon their appearances and actions.

These people’s words have caused me to reflect from time to time, appearances do matter, at times.  So I have taken theses comment to heart and I am more careful to assess what I wear and what I do when I go to events, if I am just checking in where I know the people, casual is acceptable.  But if I am going and I need to make an impression, business casual is the minimum standard.

But in the back of my head, I still hear warnings from certain clients: “if I come to my offices in a suit I will fire you”.  It is hard to please all, so please who you need to please.

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