You have to work to create a true benevolent image through the perceptions Keith!

I think it's important to change something we don't like about ourselves but not to change just because people expect you too.

One of the things I have learned over time is that people will only change if they want to. We cannot change them only our self.

I try not to think too much about what others think of me and focus on improving myself. If we consistently put our best self out there, the rest will fall into place!
Erica

We change ourselves and strive to influence others to change for the better

Perceptions are here to deconstruct them! Everybody thinks or believes something about us based on his own perceptions of life! It is in our hand to shake them down by being ourselves!

It is always good to run our own race, stay true to ourselves and true to the course we sail others will take notice, even follow.

I recently took a nonverbal/body language course from http://creativelive.com, and it was mentioned of an incident where a very talented photographer was evaluated negatively when prospective clients met with her. Even though they were impressed with her photography work, they weren't interested in paying her much when they actually met with her because her body language didn't give her the impression of authority. Personally, in the past, the way I carry myself would affect my confidence negatively. Now I know better to have the "right" body language that can boost my confidence and create a better impression at the same time. As for written presence, it helps to sound like you know what you're talking about too. One has to assume the attitude that one is already an expert on one's niche when writing at the same time one is continually developing more and more expertise.

Hi Keith .. there are a lot of good points you raise in this post. Cheers, William.

I've had a lot of people have a lot of negative impressions of me over time. I've generally found that they are based on their preconceived notions more than on my particular actions. Sooner or later, if I kept doing the best that I could, the facts, as you would say, would change their minds. Or they wouldn't, in which case I knew those were people I didn't want in my life. :)