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