People judge a book by the cover and the readability. Else they won’t buy it.

People judge us by the first impressions they make of us. Like it or not, you are being judged by how you look, how you dress, and how you carry yourself—and, if you’re lucky, how you do your job. Clothes certainly don’t make the person, but they can definitely influence the public’s perception.

In her new book, “Presence,” Professor Amy Cuddy says that people quickly answer two questions when they first meet you:

• Can I trust this person?

• Can I respect this person?

How we dress influences the answers to the above questions.

I never used to care much about grooming. I can count the number of times I have worn a suit and a tie. Less than 7 occasions. Thrice during Job interviews. One during a class dinner and during my graduation. I hate ties and have never understood why people wear them. Friends used to tell me public image is important. One would always echo “Image is everything”. I always ignored their advice and never gave thought to my grooming.

Then it happened.

I lost what I would consider a great business deal and then some.

In late November 2015 I had created a site, Electrical Engineering in Kenya as a platform to write about electrical engineering as well as maintain a database of contractors and consultants we work with.

Five months later, I received a call from a manager in one of the leading electrical cable manufacturers in Kenya (& East Africa). He wanted me to meet the CEO of the company (names withheld for privacy reasons). He told me they got my mobile number from the aforementioned site (www.eeekenya). At the same time I was working at Edson Engineers (still working there) as an electrical engineer, and I was comfortable. I considered my having to meet with CEO as an unnecessary distraction. They could not reveal the reason for our meeting and I was left to make guesses.

Two weeks passed. The manager called again and reiterated that the CEO really wanted to have a meeting with me. I thought maybe they wanted me to revamp their website and do a bit of SEO for their business sites. We finally scheduled a meeting at a popular restaurant in Sarit Center. We were to meet at 6.30pm on a certain Wednesday.

On the appointed day, I dressed normally (sort of shabbily and rusty) and proceeded to the office to prepare for a site inspection. Engineers, especially those in the construction/building industry are not known to dress well. And they don’t need to due to nature of our work.

The site inspection took around 3 hours (from 2.30pm-5.30pm).As expected, my attire got dirtier and by 6.00pm I was back to the office. I carried my shaggy backpack and proceeded to Sarit Center (in Westlands).

I had met the manager before (in preparation for the meeting) and he was easy to spot.

Then I noticed the shocked expression from the CEO as I proceeded towards them. I didn’t understand why until after the meeting was over. We exchanged pleasantries and proceeded to the main aim of the meeting. The CEO mentioned what he wanted and how his company could engage “mine”. The scope of work was huge but my appearance betrayed me. Later I realized the CEO couldn’t really trust and respect a shabbily dressed young man to work with him in such kind of work. The meeting took around one and half hours but it was hugely a formality. They liked my ideas and work, had me draft a budget proposal which I sent the following day. I have never heard from them since.

One week later it hit me how unwise I had been in preparation for the meeting. I had no semblance of a business person who could be depended upon to execute a project of such a magnitude. That is how I lost what would have been a good deal. Nevertheless I learnt my lesson. Brendatt Limited was also born out of this experience.

I won’t be careless anymore.I should have rented a temporarily office space but I didn’t. I should have made a good show.