1. Get a smartphone. It’s not negotiable. If you want to be taken seriously as a mid-career professional, you need to be able to read and respond to emails and texts outside of the office--and search websites for content. Without one, you simply look like an idiot. If you say “hey, I really don’t need one”—you are an idiot. My top pick: The latest version of Apple’s iPhone. If you’re new to all this, purchase one in-person at your provider’s brick and mortar store so you can get lots of up-front assistance.
2. Further embrace technology. If you can afford it, buy a tablet or notepad and get comfortable with it. You will look smarter and be more useful to your organization—and also have something interesting to talk about. Please lose the mindset that these are simply toys for children—because a tablet is a serious business tool. They’re not difficult to master, and they make you look considerably smarter than the dinosaur in the plaid jacket sitting next to you. My top pick: Apple’s iPad.
3. Clean up your ride. If your car is rolling junk, it’s not helping your image. Even worse if it’s dirty and full of crap. Think: Would I wear clothes that looked like this? Well—in many people’s minds, you are what you arrive in. Yes, it’s a big investment in a depreciable asset—but you have to drive something. My pick: Go “newer” instead of “more expensive”. If you can afford both, that’s cool. If your budget doesn’t allow for this, do the very best you can at keeping your older vehicle looking clean and appealing. People start evaluating you when you pull into the parking lot. Please don’t shoot me—I’m just the shallow messenger.
4. Driving: Remember when you were taught to hold your hands at “10 and 2” on the steering wheel? Well—that’s changed to “9 and 3” or even “8 and 4” because of those newfangled air bags. You don’t want to be cracking bones and blowing your fists into your face if you bump into something solid, right? You’re guaranteed to look senile if you’re holding the wheel wrong. Unless—of course—you’re driving a car built before airbags were invented. Last but not least: Stop answering your mobile phone when you’re driving—because by now you’re important enough for others to wait. Have you noticed that people in their 20s rarely answer their phone?
5. Eye wear: Update it. Grab some style magazines and note what people are wearing. Ask for help—and visit at least three stores before deciding on a purchase. Hint: If you’ve been wearing the same style for several years, you’re guaranteed to be pigeonholed as a fogey. Get over it and fix the problem.
6. Jewelry: Nothing old—unless it’s your wedding set. Antique jewelry looks cool on twenty-somethings, but when you’re wearing it, you look like the antique. My picks: For men—a nice, professional dress watch—and nothing else. Women—conservative earrings and a dress watch. Nothing too trendy, and certainly no “statement” bands on your wrists.
7. Hair: Whether you’re male or female, get some professional advice on what’s considered a solid, professional look for you. Suggestion: Start paying attention to what successful looking people are doing with their hair—and emulate them. I could say more, but I won’t.
8. Clothes: This is a whole topic on its own. What I want you to take away from this is that you need to look current—but not 20. If you’re working with a bunch of people in their 20s and you dress like their mom, they’re not going to enjoy hanging out with you. They probably won’t anyway—but at least you’ll be seen as trying to fit in and be taken seriously as a professional. Major suggestion: Male or female--look at professional style as an evolving personal journey—and get some help.
9. Speech:
When you say:
"back in my day, we never had all this technology yadda blah yadda”
they hear:
"I remember when dirt was invented. It was wonderful, because we could grow food. I used to play stick-ball with Methuselah when we were kids."
Refrain from spewing advice—but don’t be afraid to offer well-crafted solutions. Just remember that people in their 20s will believe you think they’re stupid if you offer unsolicited advice. Sure, some of them are pretty stupid—right? You don’t need to rub it in. Nope--there's nothing in it for you. Feel free to extrapolate on cleaning up your speech.
10. Expand your interests. Learn something new and interesting outside of work. Be able to share some thoughts and ideas to which others can relate. Consider getting smarter on entertainment, current events, technology, social media, photography, diet, and fitness. Speaking of fitness—there’s no time like the present to get into shape and it will also give you something to share. My pick: Beachbody.com. They’re famous for P90X, but they also have some superb entry-level fitness routines almost anyone can do. Consider yoga, cycling, swimming and walking if you don’t want a structured fitness plan—but start budgeting some time to be active every day.
10.5 Your cube: Get rid of the artifacts from yesteryear. No calculators with hand-cranks, art deco staplers, or spare cathode ray tube monitors. Think “contemporary”, and make your personal workspace look like your boss would be proud to show new clients where you sit. If at all possible, go as paperless as your job will allow. Limit photos; one of your sweetie or vacation home is good. Having too many photos in your cube is a distraction for others. Remember: You’re there to work.
