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Do the Best Entrepreneurs Wear Jeans?
In the limited subset of entrepreneurs pitching an early-stage venture firm in the Boston area, it seems that there is an inverse relationship between how formally an entrepreneur is dressed during the pitch and how potentially exciting their endeavor. Of course, the correlation isn’t perfect, and correlation doesn’t imply causation, but it is notable, especially given the “stuffy� reputation the area has vs. the rest of the start-up regions. Perhaps it is a symptom of the expression of confidence wearing something comfortable.
Photo by Sabinche.
via Joerg Batterman.
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Ben Yoskovitz on May 31st, 2006 8:03 am
Maybe I’m “old school” or something but I can’t imagine going to VCs in jeans. Whether it’s an informal conversation or not, first impression of jeans says to me, “didn’t think this meeting was important enough to step out of his comfy clothes and look put-together.”
I’m all for cool/hip but there are better ways of displaying that than jeans.
Next thing we’ll hear is that “torn jeans” are better than “new jeans”…
I’m not advocating a suit, and maybe VCs want to see jeans, but it just makes me think, “unprofessional.”
Jason on May 31st, 2006 12:05 pm
I think it is all about where you are located. Walk into a bank in Bozeman, Montana — for instance — more than a nice shirt and a “nice” pair of jeans and you will be over dressed.
I have rushed around to meet with new bankers several times since moving here and have always been very overdressed which is more awkward than talking business in jeans and a Polo shirt.
..be bold
Ben Yoskovitz on May 31st, 2006 12:31 pm
Fair enough, location is important. I was always told, “Dress one notch above what you expect others at the meeting will be dressed like.”
Maybe that’s just something Moms say so they’re not embarassed by their kids, but it’s worked for me in the past.
Jimmy on July 21st, 2006 12:38 am
Yeah, unless you have an extremely viable idea with easily accessible target audiences – first impression is important.
Quick, somebody start a clothing line that is as comfortable as sweats and jeans, yet affordable, and as fashionable as the top brands.
Len on October 21st, 2006 3:12 pm
I consider myself pretty laid back, but quite honestly, dressing too casually when making a first impression in business often just does not work.
In the past I’ve had a few people come to me with a business proposal and they were very casually dressed.
Salesman 1 came to me wearing jeans and chewing gum. He came along with a guy who was slightly better dressed and who did the talking. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt so I thought I’d consider the opportunity they were offering me. We had a few more discussions on the telephone in the next few weeks and Salesman 1′s telephone manners were very casual as well. In the end, they were far too casual to do anything too efficiently and things did not work out.
Salesman number 2 came in another day wearing track pants. He seemed a touch more professional but seemed to be talking a little too much about unrelated things. Over the next few weeks I would catch this guy saying many little untruths. Needless to say, his true colors came out evetually and again, this did not lead to anything fruitful.
The moral of the story is “Be somewhat professional in your dressing and act professional”. Within time, once you get to know your client, you can ease off a bit.
The first impression really does count and often is a reflection of what is to come!
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