by Peter Lampros

Created on: February 09, 2008

Self-image, that is, the image one projects within and without, is a critical personality trait in today's business world. The average business person is expected to multi-task, be flexible, give 150%, and represent their company to the highest levels of moral and ethical litmus. Success in the modern business world largely depends upon the ability to build and maintain strong, cohesive relationships with clients, vendors, and the community in general. Without a positive self-image one will lack the confidence or the tenacity to realize their potential.

One who feels inferior or flawed in some manner will, in many cases, exacerbate the situation by internalizing a negative self-image. This erodes their self-esteem and self-efficacy; that is, how they feel about themselves and how confident they are in their ability to perform a given task. This erosion gets worse over time if steps are not taken to correct it and eventually the result is the veritable self-fulfilling prophecy. Henry Ford, the automobile pioneer, once said, "Whether you think you can, or cannot, either way you are correct." The real danger this presents in business is the propensity to project the growing negative self-image in the workplace. This also can spread like a cancer and negatively affect others in contact with the afflicted person.

Conversely, when one is confident and self-assured the propensity is to grow a positive self-image, which leads to positive self-esteem and self-efficacy. This also gets projected and can spread to co-workers, vendors, and clients alike. Those who engage in modern day business find that it is ever changing and dynamic, but that people still do business with those who are likable or are, at least, similar to themselves. When one has a positive self-image, and projects that image in the marketplace, people of similar persona will be attracted to them. It has been said that "like attracts like" and the business world is the microcosm where this is most apparent.

Why do certain companies do business with a particular vendor, to the exclusion of all others? Why is someone willing to pay more for a substandard product, which cannot be delivered as quickly as its competitors' products? Why do certain individuals seem to be born under a luck star and others struggle as if on some masochistic treadmill of life? The answer is one very simple common denominator: self-image.

Recently, a lady was looking for an SUV. She went to two dealerships and bought an SUV at the

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