Be very conscious of the image you present. I have a very successful friend. He just sold a company he founded for about $100 million. Yet, when I first met him, he was struggling to get a promotion at his company.
Why? He is a smart guy and good businessman. But, he had a poor image inside his company.
He’s a fun guy. Enjoys sports, a good laugh and a beer or two, now and then. Somehow this got him branded as immature. Whenever his name came up for a promotion, he was dismissed immediately. The dreaded “immature” tag saw to that.
He eventually had to leave that company and move to another where he set about consciously building his image. He was able to create an image as a serious businessman who could consistently deliver solid bottom line results.
He flourished in the new company, in large part because he managed his image. This gave him the confidence to start his own business. His success speaks for itself.
