Is Image Everything?

So get a $75 dressy Guess or Fossil brand watch from JCpenney, etc.  Looks a little classier than a ironman, and won't cost you the same as a car.   Not sure what you do for a living, but if I was buying services from a guy who wore a rolex, I would be concerned that his markup what a little too high.  

You don't have to spend 3k.  Find something that looks similar and buy that instead.  Save it for work only and it will stay nice and new looking.

Unless the person is looking at your watch brand - they won't really know if you spent $100 or 3k.

FWIW, you DO need to "fit in" - depending on your goals.  If your goal is to move ahead, depending on the industry some of your "promotability" may very well come from appearance.  If it does, study those people who are where you want to be, and make the changes necessary so you are more in line with what is considered upper level.  This does not necessarily mean dropping huge $$ but DOES mean that you need to know what the "look" is - so you can work on integrating at least some of that into your own style.

If people judge you by the watch you wear or the car you drive - more fool them.

Image in terms of personal hygiene, clean shoes and a pressed shirt are important.

Ask your Dad what it is that impresses him about people that drive nice cars or wear expensive watches.  Personally, I'm happy for them that they've got this stuff but it says absolutely nothing about them as a business person. 

As long as you have a nice bike, who cares what kind of watch you wear or what kind of car you drive?

Okay, I'll play contrarian here.

I wear a "nice watch".  But, not to impress people, and certainly not for "office status".

As a matter of fact, I will go out of my way to find watches that are not easily recognizable as a "status" watch.  If it screams "$$$", then I'm not interested.  I prefer people to not take notice. 

I wear a nice watch for me.  Because I love mechanical things, and to me a beautifully made automatic watch is the epitomy of a fine mechanical device that I can wear on  my wrist and does double-duty as timekeeping device.

Do I think Mark needs a nice watch?  Certainly not.  Though his father's comments are not without basis--as there is more than small cadre of people in the business world who judge you (like it not) by your outward presentation--a nice watch being an item they will assess you by.  If you're in an industry or workplace where such superficiality can't affect your career path--more power to you.  But, not every workplace is like that.

Image can be everything, if you let it be.

Sure, there will be points in your life where you need to project a certain image.  If it helps you get to a position that you want, then it's a useful tool to getting there.  Coupled with intelligence, education, and people skills, it's just something else that you can utilize.

That being said, you have to decide if that's what you want.  Do you want the lifestyle that mandates fancy watches and cars and designer suits?  If so, then you know what you need to do.  Otherwise, who gives a fig?

There are those who car what watch or clothes you wear, or what car you drive.  There are those who couldn't care less about any of those things. 

Many jobs require some type of uniform.  For some it is clothing, a hat, a mechanic's shirt with a name on it, an apron, a chef's hat.  For others it is a suit and a nice looking watch.  If you're going to need this stuff to do your job properly - and you want to do your job properly - then you should have it.  OTOH if you can do your job without this stuff then it is not part of the uniform.  Only you can make that decision.

If you go to Disney and the guy who is Mickey Mouse that day decides he can do his job without wearing the proper uniform he's going to have a tough time keeping his job.

Don't wear a watch at work at all = Timex or Rolex, is either necessary in a profcessional environment? I used to be really into watches, but now don't wear one at all unless I'm training or in a place with no access to time. In my office I can look anywhere for the time. Besides, Rolex is pretty unimaginative. If you do go fancy, try a Cartier Pasha or a Breitling.

I think your dad may be looking at it from a different generational perspective.

Buy a Timex stainless steel dress watch - they're out there!  Then you have the best of both worlds - your Timex (loyal to the sport) and your dressiness (loyal to the job).  I agree, image isn't everything, and I'd much prefer to wear my timex when at work, but I do like my dress watch, too (it's a stainless steel Mickey Mouse watch I got while in Disney World last year - HA!).  I'd prefer to wear my running shoes and such to work, but I can't, so I give my best here to my employer in terms of what I wear.  Granted, I DO have a ton of tri related stuff hanging around my cube...

Always be true to yourself, though.  I'd rather work with someone who is true to themselves, than someone who is just playing a part.

BE TRUE TO YOU!!

Keep on sporting the Timex!  The real people in your life will respect you for it!  Don't be fake to appeal to others.  Be the person you're comfortable with.

I have friends who are into the fancy watches and cars and all that crap, and it's so superficial it stinks.  The one purchase that I respect him for buying is his Orbea Ordu.  And not because I am a triathlete, because I know who he is. 

Mark, why aren't you just coming to me for career advice? :p

I worked for the CEO/Chairman of a national staffing agency. His exec assist often had to tell him what tie to wear and he wore a sports watch (Timex). He also had a powerful personality so people tended to listen more to what he had to say and less to what he wore.

I date off/on a world-travelling executive. He wears a nice watch and says he finds overpriced watches to be pretentious and a sign that someone is 'trying to hard.' Others may disagree.

The important thing is that your Personality convey competence and confidence. People won't pay too much attention to your appearance if you exude those two things.

But your watch IS part of your image. Your image conveys the importance of health, fitness and sports to your life. That unnerves some people. I saw it in my little office - even though I kept protesting that I only toyed with triathlons, the non-active folks in my office would see my pink Timex and healthy eating as rebukes to their sedentary, drink 'til you're falling down lifestyles.

Anyway, the Timex is conveying much more powerful things than the few sheckles youu paid for it. To the non-active folks, it conveys discipline, willingness to suffer, strength, commitment. To active folks, they're going to be thinking "Huh. Wonder why he doesn't have a Garmin."

People will always judge you by your appearance and accoutrements (5 points!) - but your confidence, poise and communication style will always trump those things.