The first 10 to 20 seconds are crucial in creating the best first impression in your first meeting. People observe you from head to toe. They study your physical personality, demeanor, mannerisms, body language, your style or fashion, etc. It is therefore vital for you to make the best impression. Because once the impression is made, it is mostly irreversible. If you have made a good one, it is good; but if you have not, the damage is done. You may interest some and disappoint others. Most of us wish to make the best impression in others whether the meeting is personal or professional.

How do people assess you the first time they see you?
You are always appraised in initial business and social environments. When they see you for the first time, people notice your dress, your shoes, handbag and hairstyle, your body language, your mannerisms, etc. Certain elements contribute to making your first impression. They are: Physical appearance, body language, verbal communication and how well you perceive other people.

Here are a few tips to make the best impression:

Physical appearance

Try your best to look attractive * Dress appropriately for the situation and profession * Look poised * Look economically well off in terms of time and money * Choose a proper hairstyle or haircut * Dress well * If you are a woman, your hair should be worn away from your face and heels would make you look taller and slimmer * Accessories such as watch, jewelry and handbags or briefcases should highlight your style along with elegance and quality.

Body language

Enter a room with confidence and smile * Maintain a good posture * Make good eye contact with people you meet and hold it for a few seconds to create a warm connection * Let your handshake be firm * Maintain a distance of one-arm’s length between you and the other person while talking * Do not wear heavy scented colognes * Keep your breath fresh.

Verbal communication

Remember names when new introductions are made. This is very important especially in business circles * be confident when you converse or while giving out your personal, business details * be sensitive about what topics you choose for small talk.

Perceiving others

Study the other person and try to learn his personality as soon as you could. You could exchange simple information that helps you to understand the energy levels and compatibility between the two of you.

In conclusion, your mastery in presenting yourself in appropriate style, your efficient communication and elegant body language and your sensitivity to others are the key elements that win over others with the best impression.

If someone were to stop and ask you what the most valuable assets of your business, whether it’s online or offline, what would your answer be? Most people would respond with an answer like, “My customer list”, or “My Joint Venture Partner list”, or “my product’s source code.”

More than likely, your answer would probably be similar to the ones listed above. And, while those are all good answers, if yours was among them, then you too, would be wrong.

The fact is that everyone who is in business, everyone who is alive today, wherever they are, has four very valuable assets to help them achieve the level of success they seek. However, unless you first, understand what they are, and then second, realize their value, you will never be able to use them to their fullest potential.

Your first most valuable business asset is… Time. There is a saying, “If you want something done, give it to someone who is busy.” Successful people have learned to value their time. Master Marketer Dan Kennedy is reported to have a countdown clock on his desk, to remind him of the value—and brevity—of Time.

We each have 168 hours a week, twenty-four hours a day, sixty minutes in an hour, and sixty seconds in a minute. And while we are alive we can choose to spend time as we please. However, we can never get back what we’ve spent. So, it is up to us to value our time by guarding it and making sure to get the most out of it. This is true for our personal lives as well as for our business endeavors.

The second most valuable asset your business has is… a collection of Resources. Of course, depending upon the level of success your business has achieved, the number of these and their value will vary. Nonetheless, every businessperson has some kind of resources that can be tapped into. The trick, though, is to determine not only what resources you have, but also what kinds of resources are available as well. You may be surprised to discover that there are more than you realized at first.

Here’s an extremely valuable business asset that’s often overlooked, or at the very least, under-appreciated. What is it? Your Expertise or Experience. Regardless of what type of business you’re in, you have a unique set of abilities, skills, knowledge and experiences that no one else has. You can offer your expertise to others as well as apply it to achieve your own success. Too often we sell ourselves short about our abilities and specialized knowledge simply because we are so familiar with them that we couldn’t imagine that someone else would want or need them.

Finally, the fourth most valuable business asset you have is your… Energy. Call it passion, drive, or one of a dozen other similar descriptions. It’s the thing that motivates you to persevere in your business endeavors, even when you don’t feel like it. While everyone has this kind of energy, most people either don’t realize its value or don’t understand how use it effectively. Another term for it could be your personal vision.

Now you should be able to answer the question in the opening paragraph correctly. These four assets are not only valuable; they are also vital to your success in any avenue of life. In case you have difficulty remembering them, here’s a simple acrostic to assist you:

Time
Resources
Experience (or Expertise)
Energy