I wore a nice shirt and tie to work today.
For the previous year I have been in nothing more upscale then my Lucky Brand jeans. In the summer I wear shorts and a polo shirt.
Mostly this is because I bike to work every day, which leaves me completely soaked with perspiration by the time I enter the office. Since I shower in the morning, I don’t smell bad. I towel off the sweat in the bathroom and change clothes.
This is a particularly unusual style of dress for business since my job is recruiting and interviewing. On any given day I meet with two to three people for an hour each who want to work at our firm. Since January I’ve hired around sixty people, most all of which showed up to the interview in nice clothes.
In a previous career that lasted five years I wore a suit to work. I never minded it, and always felt very professional. I suspect I worked a lot harder, too. There’s something in me that just fuels productivity when I dress up.
So, because I suspect there were times that an applicant wasn’t exactly super–impressed with my milky white legs and New Balance shoes, I thought today I’d go back to my roots.
The end result? I worked harder and the interviews went more smoothly than normal.
It reminds me of when I can get myself to the gym for an intense workout.
It always feels amazing when I’m done and I’m proud of the hard work I’ve put in.
But I suspect that, also like the gym, I’ll forget all about the benefits by tomorrow and reach for my khaki shorts.