The great necktie debate
As 2011 winds down so does a long debate I’ve had in my own head. To tie or not to tie, that is the question.
I’ve spent the past 15 years in the copier industry with 5 of the most recent years being in sales. For the first 10 years a necktie was never a question or considered. It was never asked of me even though I was in the trenches spending hours in customers’ offices helping them integrate or install their new Copier or Document Management Systems.
That was then and this is now. I’m in sales dammit! I’ve been elevated to tie-wearing status. When you are elevated to this status the clouds open up and the suns rays shine upon you...okay, so it's not that dramatic.
I’ve been battling the theory that salespeople should wear ties for the past 5 years. It really is the little things that get to me. By nature, salespeople are independent individuals who do not like to be told what to do or how to do it. We live by run rule. Sell or starve.
The sales managers will tell us “We’re business professionals selling to other business professionals and we should look the part”. "Look" is the key word here. I’ve met many people in ties that are so far removed from the word professional it’s scary.
Well boo! I say no! I hate ties! I think they are tremendously un-cool. In addition to the fashion statement, I don’t think that little piece of cloth tugging at my neck all day has anything to do with my professionalism or abilities. So I made the decision to put this great debate to rest. I decided to go all year without wearing one; even if the decision bankrupted my family.
There’s no doubt 2011 was an interesting year. I worked more hours this year than normal (my wife can confirm). The sales landscape is certainly getting tougher. I made the decision to become more active in social media and oh yeah, I refused to wear a necktie! Not once in a professional environment.
Guess what? It felt good!
You know what else? I had the best sales year in my 5 year career. Nearly a $1,000,000 in revenue over a 13 month period. I call it my Million in a Bakers Dozen. It would have been a lot cooler to do it in a calendar year but there is always 2012.
So the verdict is out. Neckties hold you down. Stop wearing them and you will be elevated to the next level in your career. Good luck out there!
-Adrian Leffler
