First Impressions: Don't Be Fooled by a Pretty Face

It used to be that we were all taught to make a good first impression. We were all taught to put our best foot forward when meeting that new person, going for that job interview, etc...We have come to find out over the years that this could not be a more confusing or wrong indicator of who people really are. You may find that you get a "good feeling" about someone when you first meet them. You may find that the potential date seems like a keeper and a longterm relationship. As an employer, you may think that a new applicant will be right for the job.

This will most likely be a completely new way for you to think about this topic. It is just not the normal way we have been taught. We can only say that employers may be on to this as far as new employees are concerned. Parents sometimes are guilty of thinking that new teacher, coach, etc will be a good fit for our children.

The real indication of what a person is made of, in our opinion, is not that impression they make when you meet them initially. We feel the real first impression does not become apparent till sometimes much later. We are saying that the true test of a person is to see them when they are dealing with an issue, when life has them backed up against the wall, when life is not dealing them the rosy picture of life they expected.

The following are some areas where we feel you need to "wait" to see the true picture. We assume you may be able to add a few people to our list!

1. Employees- we will start with employees. If you are an employer, you really don't know if the potential applicant is a good fit for your company or not. Perhaps to see how these people act when asked to work over their usual time, meet a deadline, etc...will give you the true meaning as to whether or not They will be a team player. Are they willing to go the distance? Do they come to work when they are scheduled?

2. Employers-we will follow the above with employers. Numerous times, you may find you, as a potential new employee are given empty promises and freedoms when accepting the new position. Then you come to find out that the agreed upon benefits are soon forgotten or not do-able.

3. Girlfriends/boyfriends-meeting a new partner can be exciting!.Everything seems peachy-keen till you begin to involve yourself with this new person . Then you find yourself having to explain your every move. You find that maybe they don't want you to spend time with your friends, or take time for your hobbies. No one can see this in the beginning.

4. Car Salesman- Buying a new vehicle? Did we just hear a loud groan from our readers? Most of us will have to deal with these people more than once in our lifetime. You know the professional mumble/jumble that you can sometimes get caught up in. Please remember, like every other salesmen in any other type of business, they have one agenda......to make a sale and to make a commission.Before we get tons of hate mail, the message we want to get across is, inform yourself! Don't show up on a car lot to make one of life's bigger purchases only to be uninformed about the product,car, etc...This way hopefully you will be on an even playing field. Never, never, never show up to buy a vehicle without doing your homework! Never pay sticker price, always search out any available car business within a reasonable amount of driving time. Compare prices.

5. Hired Contractors-do they seem to be listening to what you want? Can they comply to your deadline? If they seem to good to be true, REQUEST REFERENCES AND CHECK THE BETTER BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.

6. Cell Phone Companies- This is a huge competitive market these days. The companies are only too happy to see you a new over-priced phone and a fat expensive contract. But pay attention to what your getting!! Any initial "free" items that run for a limited period of time , such as Internet access via your phone, usually have to be canceled by "YOU", or you will be charged for them. We recommend not accepting anything free if it's something you will probably not want later on.

7. Doctors-does your doctor encourage you to try new treatments or does he shy away from progress? How does he feel about you seeking a second opinion? Does he or his office return your calls when you make an inquiry? Do they do their best to fit you in when you have a concern? Do they have excellent bedside manner? Because if they don't, find someone else!

8.Mechanics-How do you feel about your car mechanic? Have they made you promises and not kept them? Are they done with your car when promised?Do they do their best to keep your costs down when possible? There are tons of good, reliable car mechanics to deal with. But don't forget the horror stories as told on television and keep yourself informed.

We would love to hear about your experiences of first impressions.