Have an ordinary day! Did anyone ever say that to you? Probably not. No one wants to be thought of as ordinary, and most of us do not purposely pursue an ordinary life. We hope to change the world or achieve something special in life.

If you were interviewing candidates for a job, would your goal be to hire an ordinary person? Or would you be searching for a candidate that was extraordinary? The answer is obvious. But just what makes a person extraordinary? Credentials matter, of course. But when two people have identical credentials, experts say that the choice boils down to who looks the part-in other words, the one who looks the most polished and professional. After all, if looks didn't matter, we would hire over the internet.

Psychologists tell us that we pick cars that tell the world who we are. Of course, most of us shop around to get a good deal with car, but when push comes to shove, we are likely to pay a little more to get a car that is a little special. And we certainly don't go about searching for an ordinary car. Interest-ingly, some people spend more time and money on their automobile than on themselves. It is normal for an auto to express who you are, but it is not wise to give it more importance than you give yourself.

My awareness of extraordinary people came about when I was thirteen years old and our family went to Miami Beach for the first time during summer vacation. I can still see the boardwalk now and all the beautiful, elegantlydressed, sun-tanned people on parade there. It was my first encounter with so many extraordinary-looking people in one place. To me, they all looked like the movie stars I had seen in magazines, and I must have stood there wide-eyed and enchanted.

As I look back now, I'm sure all those beautiful people on the boardwalk in Miami Beach worked hard to look good. As Cindy Crawford said, "Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford." In other words, when you see Cindy on the pages of a fashion magazine, she has taken the time to make herself look extraordinary. It's what we expect, and to do anything less would be unprofessional.

Cindy has been photographed on the streets of Beverly Hills in jeans and Tshirt, but she was still looking extraordinary because her hair, makeup, shoes, and other accessories were immaculate. There was no disguising her polished, classy look-with or without runway and photo makeup. It's all about attitude. A true professional in any field knows that he or she must meet the demands of others in order to be successful.

You may be surprised to know that quite often fashion models do not like the clothes they are given to wear on the runway. As a true professional, a model would never let you know it because she's learned that we all choose clothing from out hearts and souls and not from the results in the mirror. What appeals to your best friend may be totally unappealing to you. So, a model walks out there with the attitude that this is her most favorite garment in the world, and you can just eat your heart out and run right out and buy it so you can have that same feeling. Ultimately, it's about wanting to look extraordinary, and it is a good goal to have. It only takes a little awareness and a little time.

During the holidays I attended a fundraising event attended by local celebrities, representing their cause. Some chose to look like celebrities and some did not. It was disappointing to see people representing themselves in such an ordinary manner when all of the guests were dressed in holiday finery. I assume many of the guests were also disappointed because it was the "glamorous" celebrities who got all the attention.

It's a brand new year. Why not choose to look special instead of ordinary this year? Get a new hairdo, wear dynamic colors, and give yourself a few minutes extra each morning to put your best face forward. It's worth it. Just ask Cindy Crawford!

Sandy Dumont, THE Image Architect is an image consultant and professional speaker based in Virginia Beach, with 30 years of international and national experience helping individuals and Fortune 500 companies improve their image. She conducts customized Branding for People™workshops on a regular basis.
For more information, visit www.theimagearchitect.com or call 757/627-6669.

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by Sandy Dumont, THE Image Architect © 2006
Originally published in Tidewater Women, January 2006