I call this the Head & Shoulders rule: Most of the time in business you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. Yet this simple fact of life is by no means as obvious and well-understood as it should be. Since we're talking here about "real life," in which there are no second acts, rehearsals, or do-overs, it's critical to make sure that the first impression people have of you and your business is at least favorable--and, ideally, fabulous.
We're designed by nature to make lightning-fast decisions; it's an outgrowth of our earliest "fight or flight" instincts that were developed for self-preservation (to keep the animals we encountered from eating us).
Via The Learning Factor
The adage about never getting a second chance to make a first impression remains true. But it's easy to overlook. Here's why you can't afford to ignore it.