Chapter 10
You Never Know Who's Watching
One morning I was driving into a coffee shop drive-through. The tight laneway with multiple entrances made the morning rush hour particularly challenging. As I was about to take my place in line, a man cut in front of me. Luckily, I wasn't in a rush, the sun was shining, and a favorite song was playing on the radio. I just smiled and waved him through.
Not long after, I was introduced to a gentleman at a formal event. He asked me if I drove a particular make and color of car. He was correct, but I was surprised he knew this information. He explained that he was the guy who almost crashed into me at the drive-through. He apologized for not seeing me and then commented on my friendly nature and positive response to what could have prompted a nasty fit of road rage.
Can you imagine the difference if I had opted for a negative—yet more common—response that morning?
The point is you never know who's watching from the sidelines. Each interaction with a contact, regardless of the environment, will add to, reinforce, or subtract from his or her opinion of you.
You never know who is standing behind you in a coffee shop line or sitting beside you at a hockey game. It could very well be the person you meet in the boardroom on Monday morning. It's not that you have to constantly watch over your shoulder; just be aware of the image you portray when you're in public and how your actions contribute to your personal brand.
You can test yourself by asking, ...
