There are two cars and the same exact driver. The reaction from the outside world was eye opening. Of course in my work with clients who are either seeking to enhance their career opportunities, or a client in transition who is seeking their next position, we always discuss in detail every aspect of their personal appearance. The clothes they wear anywhere. No matter where they are going.
We review their personal grooming habits and their level of fitness. Everything is on the table, really, pun intended!
So why did it come as a bit of a shock to me how people reacted to the same driver when driving my daughter’s almost fifteen year old Toyota with no rust but a bit of peeling paint as opposed to when the same driver when driving my five/six year new Volvo?
Let’s first discuss the fine print of this study. There is no fine print!
No numbers of people. No secure testing facility. No fake outs, make outs or industry groups contributed to influencing the results. The one driver – me – and my first hand accounts of enough examples to write them out for you to consider what this may mean to you. Let’s clear up why drive the Toyota at all? Why not? It is good to keep cars in use if someone is out of town or it would otherwise not be in use. Therefore, rotation is the right way to go. What type of car do you drive?
The majority of the time driving the Toyota is spent dressed in a nice polo shirt or my yoga shirt. This would depend upon the going to or returning from the yoga class.
Earlier, before the study results were analyzed, half the time would have included a shirt, tie and possibly a sports jacket depending upon the time of the year. Then the study results came in.
The first and most obvious reaction was from business associates, networking events, and seeing various clients and potential clients. If anyone saw me drive in or on the way to exit in the Toyota, invariably, as in 100% of the time, there would be a comment.
Quickly my response would be, “It is my daughter’s car, I told her I would fill up the tank for her.” It wasn’t long before the Toyota stopped joining me for any type of activity directly or indirectly related to business.
Now for the meat of the study – the on the road reaction from the outside world.
Below behavior witnessed a minimum of two to three times more often while driving the Toyota:
Let’s begin with being cut off. There may as well have been a sign on the rear of the car saying, “Please feel free to cut me off!”.
Right Thru Red, Right Thru Stop Sign and anyone turning from the side in front of my path or direction. When you see a driver actually stop in any of these cases which is rare to begin with and then take a long look at you and then proceed to go anyway – makes you wonder what they saw.
People in SUV’s and any of the larger suburb type of trucks which are great for ranchers or farmers but seriously who has to have these in the suburbs? Have to love these folks. In the parking lot they actually do not care at all as they open up the door and slam it into the side of the Toyota. It is as if there is a Sweepstakes or Reality Show to see who may leave the deepest and largest ding in the metal.
In closing, the final item in the road reaction portion of the study – Tailgating. The amount of distance from the person behind me and their bumper to my rear fender was about the smallest one might imagine. Highway or street – hands down.
Why should any of this matter to anyone else?
If you do not think you are being assessed – profiled – having people create an impression of you by what you wear, what you drive and how you look – it is time to wake up and smell the coffee. Remember, all of this happens before you have said one single word.
Mitch Tublin is an advanced certified executive and personal coach who resides in Stamford, CT.
Are you seeking to advance your career or are you in career transition? Contact Mitch to set up a call. It is time to get results.
