Thee common thread you should continually strive to weave into all that you do is that of a purposeful, confident professional.
Make no mistake about it. Such an aura is not the product of the right genes, but rather is the product of the right habits. Habits such as introducing yourself first, a firm handshake, good eye contact, a pleasantly sincere smile, a strong voice projection, and proper posture (stomach in, chest out, shoulders back, head forward). Overdoing it? That depends on how seriously you take the point. We haven't even mentioned clean nails, shined shoes, pressed cotton shirt, personal hygiene and an overall appearance of fitness. You want to convincingly look like you're going to be around, not like you've already been around. If you were the investor, with all else being equal, who would you put your money behind? A glowing energetic fireball, or a 100 pounds overweight chain-smoking fizzle with a hacking cough?
The reality may be that the chain-smoker can out perform his picture perfect competition. But we're not talking about reality, we're talking about perception. Your concerns should be those of your lender. That's the only reality that counts. Yes, the examples given are the two extremes on the scale. And yes, there is much room in-between. So, strive to make a personal presentation that will score on the upper end of that scale, and you will have a starting advantage over your competition.
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