| Today I offer some insight into the business world's | | | | into the sales rep's pitch, he also noticed something |
| conservative but justified stand on appearance.During | | | | crusty stuck to the tie in addition to the mustard |
| my 15 years as a sales rep in the electronics industry, | | | | stain. The CEO had to excuse himself so that he |
| I became closely acquainted with several of my | | | | could release the laugh he was stifling for the last 20 |
| accounts. These account managers consisting of | | | | minutes. The sales rep was selling industrial cleaner. |
| purchasing supervisors, engineers and upper level | | | | Moral of story: Check a mirror before going into an |
| CEOs confided to me some business faux pas that | | | | account and carry an extra tie in your briefcase for |
| made them chuckle as soon as either they or the | | | | those post lunch meetings. Unless it's mandatory, |
| sales rep left their office.Appearance is everything in | | | | don't wear a tie at all.Bright red nail polish on women |
| the business world. Being a conservative world, keep | | | | is a turn off to a possible prospectus. One account |
| in mind some of the actual perceived boo-boos | | | | manager said, "All I was able to look at were long |
| observed by business management that I'm about to | | | | red talons. I couldn't keep focused on the |
| share with you. These are true stories. There are no | | | | presentation. The red nails were scary." It would be |
| names mentioned to protect the innocent.One CEO | | | | even scarier on a man. Moral of story: Clear nail polish |
| commented he had the exact same tie as a particular | | | | for women, no nail polish for men.Multiple earrings on |
| sales rep who called on him. The CEO was initially | | | | both men and women make business executives |
| impressed with the apparent good taste | | | | want to run the other way. One comment, "Are |
| demonstrated by the salesman. Upon closer scrutiny | | | | they selling jewelry or electronics?" Another |
| of the tie, it was discovered that a mustard stain | | | | comment, "I kept trying to figure out how she could |
| graced the Italian silk, hand-painted masterpiece. It | | | | get all those holes in her ears without demolishing the |
| struck the CEO as amusing. After about ten minutes | | | | whole ear." Last earring comment, "It looks painful. |