When Ben Franklin was sent to France to try to obtain an agreement from the French King for support in the Revolutionary War, he knew he would have to get himself noticed. Ben knew he had to make a great first impression! The French expected him to dress like their image of the Colonials. So he dressed that way.

The way the French expected an American to dress: He wore a coonskin cap, a beaver coat, and shoes made in America. He did get noticed. It worked for him. He eventually even got to see the King and he did obtain a Treaty. As a result, America eventually won the war.

I’m telling you this today because I want you to know how important your looks can be. We were visited today by a man who wanted us to listen to him explain a new business opportunity to us, my wife, some friends, and me.

Remember the saying that “you only get one chance to make a first impression?” Well, you should keep that in mind, especially in business. Some friends showed up on time at our house to listen to such a man. Then another person rang the front bell. I answered the door and found a man in blue jeans, a regular pull over shirt, a baseball cap, and an unshaven face. He didn’t look like he belonged to our invited group.

But it turned out that this man was the presenter. My first impression as I answered the door, was this person doesn’t fit in. Maybe he’s a friend of a friend and wanted to hear about the opportunity. But he was the main reason for us being together. That first impression didn’t help him at all! If you want to get ahead, you youngster should remember—you only get 1 chance to make a first impression!

I told you a few days ago about Ben Franklin’s saying “Fish and visitors stink after 3 days.” Well, this applies to visitors for an evening also. I believe 90 minutes in the longest a family can abide a sales visit. That may even be too long in most cases. For me 90 minutes is the end of my endurance for such a visit.

Well, this same visitor stayed more than 2 hours and 20 minutes! That was too much to take. His sales appeal dropped with each minute. You young people should remember this also. Don’t overstay your welcome. It could have adverse consequences. Be polite, be direct, be considerate. Try to notice little hints that you’ve stayed too long. Don’t stink.