We have probably all seen the advertisements for a “Work at Home” income. Aside from the fact that they are almost always a scheme to separate the gullible from their money, they also usually paint a picture of working while wearing pajamas and slippers. Perhaps there really are some people who can work that way, but my experience has shown just the opposite.

I have worked from my home, full time, since 1995. I am what many would consider an entrepreneur – I started a business after designing and writing a software program that turned out to be very popular within its niche. I have seen less than a half dozen of my customers face-to-face, so I could easily get away with spending my days unshaven and wearing whatever seemed to be most comfortable. While I have done just that for very brief periods, the effect it has on my attitude has proven to me that good grooming and dressing well are every bit as important – if not more so – than in an office filled with co-workers and clients.

While I sit in my office at home, I make sure than I shave each morning and put on nice dress clothes. At a minimum, I wear dress pants and a long sleeve white dress shirt. On occasion I will even wear a coat and tie. I have found that it has a profound effect on my productivity, my level of professionalism, my attentiveness, and how I deal with my customers on the phone. All are greatly improved as a direct result of my outward appearance – something that typically only I and my wife will see.

(Originally posted on May 27, 2010 – re-posted on June 30, 2011)

This is an instructional film made in 1948 that goes over the basics of good grooming. Yes, some of this appears rather dated, but that’s OK – the basics are always timeless.

Do you remember those old 16 mm Coronet Films that were shown in school?

1. Your personal presentation is important
2. Do not judge others based on their appearance
3. Details define a man’s style
4. A respect for protocol
5. Always have your equipment ready
6. Our appearance and behavior reflects on our associations
7. Appreciate your history

A few comments of my own:

“Do not judge others based on their appearance” is both right and wrong. Our outward appearance reflects on our inner self. A person who has tattoos does so in order to say something about his (and, disgusting as it is – her) own beliefs. On the other hand, I have often found myself in the middle of a project and having to make a quick trip to the hardware store. I end up going dressed in badly worn and dirty clothing that I normally would not want to wear out in public and needing more than a quick wash-up. I certainly hope that others would not judge me by the way I looked at that time. The key here is exercising good judgment.

“Appreciate your history” is at the very core of what Confederate Colonel is all about. Appreciate your history. Understand your heritage. Take pride in your past. A well-dressed man wearing a Confederate flag lapel pin or a tasteful Confederate tie does more to further the image of The South than words could ever express. This is closely tied in with “Our appearance and behavior reflects on our associations”.

One of mine is shaving. I decided that since it’s a task that I have to do anyway, I may as well try to make it as enjoyable as possible. To that end, I use a Double Edge Razor with a Gillette Seven O’clock blade. I don’t use canned shave soap. I use Colonel Conk shave soap (Almond scent) and a good quality badger hair brush. I use it in the Old Spice shave mug that was handed down to me from my father. I take my time and use a sharp blade. When I’m finished, I rinse, dry, and use some Old Spice after shave. Some may find this a rather pointless waste of time, but for me it is a good way to start the day. It signals a clean fresh start of a new day – and it just plain feels good. One of the cornerstones of the Gentleman’s code is concern for others – and good grooming is part of that.

We have probably all seen the advertisements for a “Work at Home” income. Aside from the fact that they are almost always a scheme to separate the gullible from their money, they also usually paint a picture of working while wearing pajamas and slippers. Perhaps there really are some people who can work that way, but my experience has shown just the opposite.

I have worked from my home, full time, since 1995. I am what many would consider an entrepreneur – I started a business after designing and writing a software program that turned out to be very popular within its niche. I have seen less than a half dozen of my customers face-to-face, so I could easily get away with spending my days unshaven and wearing whatever seemed to be most comfortable. While I have done just that for very brief periods, the effect it has on my attitude has proven to me that good grooming and dressing well are every bit as important – if not more so – than in an office filled with co-workers and clients.

While I sit in my office at home, I make sure than I shave each morning and put on nice dress clothes. At a minimum, I wear dress pants and a long sleeve white dress shirt. On occasion I will even wear a coat and tie. I have found that it has a profound effect on my productivity, my level of professionalism, my attentiveness, and how I deal with my customers on the phone. All are greatly improved as a direct result of my outward appearance – something that typically only I and my wife will see.