Recently I gave my pastor (Faith Family Church) a note in the suggestion box.
In the past year or so I've noticed something.
I've been watching jackets and coats. Is it possible to think of Keanu Reeves without the Matrix jacket?
So much of the time the lead character in a role has some sort of jacket.
Even the villains have jackets.
The women sometimes do not but can you imagine Angelina Jolie in action without a coat?
(She has pretty cool looking jackets by the way)
Church pastors have the jacket - even the laid back type of pastor in the seekers area. One guy I saw pull anything off in clothing was Eastman Curtis - only coat I ever remember seeing him in was a leather riding one. The coat also helps with anyone overweight. A large basketball paunch can be well overlooked with the cover.
When I met Kiyosaki his shoes were a bit worn....but he sported the traditional blazer when he could have been wearing anything he wished.
See my don't need no stinkin' shoes blog archived April, 2009:
http://drsmoller.blogspot.com/2009/04/1000-thread-count-dont-need-no-stinkin.html
The Don wears the jacket. 'Nuf said.
So, anyway, I did a little research on the coat and now try to go with one on going out. Next one I get is another doctor jacket thing (monogrammed and tailored navy long sleeve, not white). My research was first in movies, then advice on clothing sites like Tom James.
In school we were made to wear coats most of the time and they were mandatory for examinations and tests. The reason behind it was that testing scores were markedly higher once the rule was implemented. President of my school was always dressed immaculately.
I ran across a website which suggested that the proper coat stated strength, power and wisdom. I thought that was goofy. I once was told by an instructor that your style of dress should be that of your best-dressed patient/client - that's pretty much what I have realized in most businesses.
So that is the non-comprehensive beginning of doing the jacket/coat/blazer. The next thing I've done in the past couple of years was testing. Networks, business to business, meetings, restaurants, outings. The sportcoat has gotten me more Respect and Recognition. In the business climate today and also in a quirky profession called chiropractic, those two R's are somewhat of a need.
I've seen goofy looking kids in coats and the appearance creates a goofy to not-so-goofy transformation (i.e. the prince of Wales kids - you know, Diana's boys). Rare to see a politician out of a coat, isn't it?
Okay. Out of school, I strayed from the clothes. I even showed up at my office in running shoes, t-shirt, shorts - probably a few times in flip-flops. I was comfortable. But as a doctor I probably looked like a schmuck to anyone who did not know me and my accomplishments - about 99% of all the people you run into during a day's time. After about two years in business I hired a consultant after we became friends. Dr. Kats would personally come to my office and help me out. His first thing he said? "Until you are at forty plus per day I will never catch you without a tie." (No mention on the coat, though). After his statement I remembered the days at ORU wearing a sweater with a cut-off tie and a knot showing at the neck so we could eat in the cafeteria - oooooooh, sweet rebellion in a tie mandatory school. I did what Dr. Kats ordered.
You know, I don't really care for the whole dress-up thing. Its a pain. I even pre-knot my ties so I can just slip them over my head and I have a large lot of neck extenders for collars so my shirts have stretchy room. The wardrobe is kept pretty basic and interchangeable.
In our culture today - following social mores - we can now get along with some scruff and, with the coat, I don't care about the matching aspect and different colors. I just now make sure I have the things on. If I were to go with just one style, I would have to defer to the basic blue sport blazer which you can go anywhere with. I'm not a fan of suits. Suits are just not my cup of tea.
There isn't much more for me to say on this subject that I can think of. I'm sure there is a lot more, but those are my basics. I guess I could say this: The coat/jacket goes well with the ladies. This is true. I've tested the fact. 80% of my business is female. At the club/bar/restaurant/billiards/bowling - probably have general ratio of 8:1 male-female. Hmmm, what is going to set you apart exclusively? Probably not your lucky socks and extra generous personality.
Ha! Things are good. Second office location in Scottsdale coming next week. Hayden/Raintree - AZBodyTherapy. Sweet.
Dr. Scott http://www.fnchiropractic.com/
