Thinking Out Loud, Volume CDLVIII

Let's say you're in need of an accountant, financial advisor, insurance agent, attorney, realtor, or perhaps even a counselor. We'll also assume you don't really know anything about any of their reputations other than maybe what you've seen in their advertisements. How do you know which one to pick? Are there certain things about each individual that would turn you on or off to them? This article will mostly be made up of questions, so please feel free to respond if you wish, but my primary goal is to provoke some thought. You walk into his/her office for your initial visit and look around at your surroundings. How much would office decor matter to you? Would pictures on the wall, or lack thereof, have any effect on your first impression? What about the quality of the desk and chairs? Does it make you feel better about that person when you're able to spot some telltale signs of success? If the office was so overly extravagant it displayed evidence of tremendous success, would that turn you on or off? Would it matter to you what type of vehicle he/she was driving? In other words, would you prefer seeing a nice, late model Toyota or Ford SUV, or a 2015 Jaguar? What if it was a '71 Rambler? Would any of that make any difference to you? What about his/her command of the English language? Would improper grammar impact your decision? What if he/she let an occasional profane word slip out from time to time? If this individual is a man, would you rather he be wearing a suit, or at least a tie? What about khakis and a sport shirt? What if he was wearing jeans and a tee shirt? Would it make any difference to you whether or not his/her shoes needed shining? Would evidence of poor hygiene give you enough of a negative impression that it would affect your decision? In my opinion, the most important determining factor is integrity, but that's a trait that may take a little longer to figure out. We've all had occasions when we got to know a person and realized our initial opinion of him/her was flawed, yet we've also heard it said many times that "you only get one chance to make a first impression," and if that impression is negative, we may just go elsewhere. I feel certain that to some, few of the factors mentioned above will impact your impression, while there may be others who look at all of the above. For what it's worth, here's my opinion: I like to see evidence of moderate success, without the image that this person is going to make too much off of me, which means that both the new Jag and old Rambler are turn-offs. I like the tie or dressy casual, but the jeans & tee shirts are out. Poor grammar and profanity are definite turn-offs, possibly even to the point of being deal breakers on the issue of profanity. Office decor means little to me. Body odor is a turn-off, although I'm a little more tolerant of stinky breath, as long as they don't get right in my face. (Actually, I don't like it when anyone feels like they have to be no more than four inches from my face when they're speaking to me.) This topic came up during our family gathering this past Christmas, and I just thought I'd get your thoughts on it. What do you think? Preston