Before you even speak...

Before you have a chance to shake their hand...

Before you can explain the stain on your shirt...

Before you can apologize for being late...

Before you can talk about why your office is a mess...

Before you say, "Hello."...

After they've watched you sitting at your desk...

After they've seen your office, your pictures, and your awards...

After they've seen how you're dressed...

After they've seen your shined shoes...

After they've seen the scuffs on your shoes...

After they've walked on the un-shoveled path to your office door...

After they've seen the well-manicured lawn, plants and trees that sit around your building...

After they've looked you in the eye...

...they've already judged you.

The key, is to make sure those judgments are as positive as possible.

Your challenge today is to look around your office space; to review your appearance, to really focus on if you smile enough or not (hint: you don't). Your challenge is to review these things and make some changes. You don't have to do it all today. But you could start with something simple and add to it each week, or if you're feeling bold, each day. The better you and your surroundings appear, the more impactful you'll be in your interactions with both your internal and your external customers.