(Prof. Sangram Priyadarsan, Koshys Group of Institutions)

What comes to your mind when you think of “First Impression”? People say you will get a second chance, but personally I believe, you will not get a second chance to create your first impression. Yes, you are right. I’m talking about personal grooming.

I still remember those days when I didn’t know how to groom professionally, even when I was pursuing my Master degree at Bangalore. One day a  friend of mine, who was my room-mate passed a negative comment on my grooming. I still remember his remark “Hey Sangram, you are not looking like doing a professional course from any angle.” I took his comment in a positive way and started working on my grooming. 

Another day, when I was going through a book written by one of our eminent spiritual leaders Swamy Vivekananda, one of his sentences really stuck in my mind i.e. “The greatest place for improvement in this world is self-improvement.” His words really impacted me, and I started working on myself to improve. Thereby, I can set a positive example to others.   

Now, I can say confidently that the comment  isn’t of others, but how you take those comments will determine the course of your life. It will make or  break your life. If you take the feedback in a constructive way, it will make a positive difference in your life. So, it’s not what others are talking about you, but how you take it, that makes all the difference. When people throw stones at you, whether you make a wall out of it to stop your progress or a road to travel through. It’s your choice.

I shall share few self-affirmations which I followed to create a positive impact on my first impression:

1. Always remember to greet people with a smile. 
2. Dress up well depending on the occasion, to feel more confident.
3. Be energetic and cordial.
4. Give a firm handshake.
5. Listen attentively and stay positive.
6. Exhibit calm, composed posture while sitting and standing.
7. Control your facial expressions and eye-contact
8. Maintain personal hygiene.

If you follow the above implications, don’t you feel your first impression will make a difference?

When I look back, I personally felt that I have really come a long way on my journey of self-development. I also know that there is still a long way to go. Last couple of years, I have been training and guiding students and professionals on creating the best impression.“You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training, grooming and encouraging your greatest asset.”  – Tom Hopkins

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