YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION

Dave Yewman, president of Dash Consulting in Vancouver, Washington, frequently lectures CEOs of major companies about how to present themselves when giving interviews or speaking in front of groups. When you meet him, your impression is of a man who is completely put together. But, when you get to know him, you find that Dave has a little secret. “My life is a series of not-put-together moments,” he admitted. “I've dripped coffee down white shirts before meetings, splashed spaghetti on myself at dinners - and don't even let me near barbecued ribs unless I'm sheathed in protective gear,” he said, only partially in jest. “My wife always tells me, ‘We can dress you up, but we can’t take you out.”

Dave travels three to four times per month, occasionally taking red-eyes and going straight from the plane to a training session. “I carry all my clothes and equipment to avoid waiting, so having travel clothes that resist stains and iron up nicely is a big deal.” For Dave, part of the benefit of stain resistant clothes is psychological. “I feel on edge when I’m not wearing something stain resistant now. I think what if I spill, what if I have a meeting?”

“Frankly, short of covering myself in Saran Wrap, the spill-resistant stuff is the only way to go,” Dave reflected. “It’s just like my mom said, ‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression.’”