Act as if. You understand what that means? Act as if you are the fucking President of this firm. Act as if you got a 9″ cock. Okay? Act as if.
–Jim Young (Ben Afleck), Boiler Room
Have you ever noticed how the way you dress affects your confidence level? The way you think? The way you work?
Did you know that POWs who maintain their grooming habits have a better chance of survival? And it’s not just the hygiene factors. Going through the motions of making yourself fresh, clean, and presentable impact your morale, and it’s that positive attitude that also helps POWs survive.
In fact, one of the founding fathers of psychology, William James, suffered from depression and he noticed that when he forced himself to act happy, his depression would often fade.
You are what you do, and part of what you do is present yourself to everyone you cross paths with everyday. And that goes for when you’re pitching a client, starting a new job, or just trying to build trust.
So how do you want to present yourself? How do you want to be seen? How do you want to feel?
And what about taking on a role that isn’t you? What about trying to come off as someone you can never be? What about being an impostor? How is that going to affect the way you think, work, and feel about yourself?
