What Do Your Surroundings
Say About You?

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Published by Rachelle Disbennett-Lee
Monday, February 25, 2002
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We communicate. Even when we do not speak, we send messages. What we wear and how we decorate our office spaces, our homes and even our cars says much about us. We send messages constantly. The question is, "Are we sending the message that most represents who we are?"

This doesn't mean we have to have expensive things or lots of things. What it does mean is that it is important to surround ourselves with the things that most speaks to us and best speaks about us. If people do not understand the true essence of who you are, it could be because they get mixed messages. You might be saying and doing one thing while your surrounding projects a different message.

Words are one way in which we communicate who we are. How we present ourselves in dress and surroundings speaks for who we are also. People pick up clues of who we are based on the presentation. If we want people to truly understand who we are, then the package must be consistent.

Coaching

It may sound shallow that we are judged by the presentation of things around us, but it is true. Perceptions create opinions. The good news is that we have control over our presentations.

A friend of mine lost a great opportunity because of her car. When she went for her final interview, the interviewer invited her to lunch and asked her to drive. Her car was a mess. She even had to clean the seat before the interviewer could sit. When she did not get the job, she asked why and was told that her car said a lot about her attention to detail and that they needed someone that was detail oriented.

We are constantly communicating with others, either by words, actions or personal surroundings. We are a complete package. If we are not happy with what is communicated by a piece of that package, we need to change it.

Are you presenting the best you?

Daily Success Formula

Our surroundings + How we present them = Communicating who we are

Quotes

"Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have." Doris Mortman

"We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?" Edward Young