Deciding whether or not you trust someone enough to give them money/hire them is a serious question. In order to find the right answer, your prospective clients/employers will analyze everything that you say, the way you behave and even what you drive. Yes, your car can be an important factor when it comes to the professional image that you want to establish. So, here’s how you can use your vehicle of choice for personal branding.
1. The first impression
Imagine a scenario where you’re meeting a potential investor or a business partner and arrive at the meeting in a ruinous vehicle. What’s the image that forms in their mind? Here’s this person trying to convince me that they can make me money when they are driving… that? Now, while clothing and cars aren’t the makings of a man, they are a marking of one’s social and financial standing. People want to do business and get associated with successful people, and driving a decent (even luxurious) car can help you send this message.
2. Confidence
The main reason why one would be frugal about the car that they’re driving is that they’re aware of the fact that their current financial status is merely a fluke. While there’s nothing wrong with being cautious or frugal, it is also a sign of self-doubt and doubt in your future income. With the availability of amazing car loans in Australia, buying a new vehicle is not really that risky. So, a person who is so cautious that they’ll avoid even this clearly has some issues that they’re trying to conceal from the world. A person in a brand new luxury vehicle often radiates confidence for these very reasons.
3. The type of car and your personality
People like to get to know the person that they’re supposed to do business with, but this is not such an easy task. Therefore, they use every bit of information that they can get. For instance, there are certain cars that are clearly the transportation of choice for adrenaline junkies. A red hot rod may also testify about the fact that you’re a massive gearhead, which is a thing to bond over or a testament to your attention and appreciation of detail. Luxury cars emphasize your financial status, while a classic car speaks volumes about your uniqueness and preference towards thinking outside-of-the-box. A mini-van portrays you as a family person (which might be exactly what you want).
4. It’s practical
Arriving at the location of the meeting in a cab or on a bicycle is not just a form of behavior that would be described as non-entrepreneurial. It’s also highly impractical. Even with the unpredictable urban commute, a car provides you with a high level of reliability. You can change locations, transport a large number of promotional materials or even product samples and much, much more. For a minute there, you can even allow yourself the privilege of looking at the vehicle from a practical standpoint, not just as a tool for branding.
5. Taking a political/societal stance
Lastly, if you’re in the industry that would get labeled as “green,” it would be only logical for you to drive a Tesla or a similar car. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that you have to settle for a certain type or a lower price-range, seeing as how the variety of high-end electrical vehicles on the market seems to be growing. Moreover, by buying locally produced vehicles, you can portray yourself as a strong supporter of a local economy. This is the impression that the majority of entrepreneurs want to make nowadays.
The way you drive and the way you take care of your vehicle are also major factors in the impression that you’re making. Alas, these are not factors that the majority of your potential business liaisons are going to witness first-hand. Therefore, your choice of the vehicle and the way in which it’s perceived by a potential partner needs to come at the forefront.
