Importance of First Impressions

Some time ago, I wrote about the telephone call that launched my career in hospitality and service.   The moral of the story was not necessarily the phone call but the “first impression” which motivated the call.   I just handed him a beach towel, that was the first impression.  Was there something in that action?  In life and career, there are many opportunities to succeed but also to fail.   A good first impression may or may not lead to anything or anywhere.  However, a negative one will surely lead to the opposite.    

I learned early that there are few, if any, second impressions, as only the first one matters.  

A quote  guided me throughout my life and is as vivid today as it was years ago.  “You are only as good as your last performance.”   We live life on a big stage where only the sets and decorations change.    We are always on stage performing and how we perform determines how we advance.  While there are “off” days, our goal is to make every effort to minimize and preferably, avoid these.     It cannot be second best; it must be the best performance every time.  Some may be fortunate to have a second chance to recover but to rely on a second chance is not a good plan.

 Your first impression is how people see you when you have a chance to be seen.  

You will be remembered for your action, reaction, appearance, mannerism, attitude, smile, composure, and so much more on that day and at that time.  How others see or perceive you is directly related to that first impression.  If it is not what they are looking for, there is a good chance to be ignored.   It will be a “don’t call me, I’ll call you” response.

Successful performers rehearse, rehearse and then rehearse some more to ensure that when they are on stage, they perform at the highest level.  They know all too well that they are only as good as “this” performance.  Your audience does not care how well you performed yesterday, or will perform tomorrow, only how well you perform in front of them “NOW.” He can be successful in 10 previous shows but if he is less than perfect on the 11^th show, that is how he will be remembered.

The world is your stage, and you are on it every day.  

Make your first impression  always the best and settle for no less.   Make the first impression count and let those whom you interact with walk away thinking you are at the top of your game.   Never forget that “you are only as good as your last performance.”