FullyFlapped: Quote unquote Oxford English Dictionary
bearing = a persons general social conduct, esp in manners, dress and behaviour
So what is it about me that differentiates me well all of the above defintion I would hope. i.e. not turning up unshaved or unshowered, not 'not' turning up, being generally courteous and providing solutions before even being asked to, showing the establishment in a good light whatever other pressures are present, always having time for the customer/client even when you are at the end of a 14 hour day for which you have been paid for 2 hours of it, not calling clients 'mate', 'darling', 'love' etc, saying good afternoon/morning/evening/bye, always thinking and planning ahead, always seeking more knowledge, further experience and never assuming that there isn't something to learn or take away from each and every minute of the working day.
Whilst I am sure that there are things missing, the point I am trying to make is that dress is a part of this because we are by nature visual animals.
If you took a wonderful steak and sauce bernaise not to mention a bottle of Chateau Lafitte and liquify it it still tastes reasonably similar (accepted texture will be different) but it doesn't look anywhere near as appealing.
If we think of our wives, husbands, boyfriends or girlfriends; if we take them and make them live in a pigsty for a week then though they are the same person if we were meeting them for the first time then we would see them differently. The reality is that whilst apperance makes no intrinsic difference to the product perception will override that for the majority of people.
Perception sells products and pilots/instructors anyone with a commercially oriented business is selling a product to a client. The bottom line is always what the client wants and pays for.
Oh and in answer to where did this get learnt. Not on the FI course its a nurture-nature issue that begins at prep school and with parents and finishes up with university, BRNC Dartmouth, RMA Sandhurst, RAFC Cranwell or wherever else life takes you it is not a course that you take it is your whole essence, bearing is what defines you.
If you genuinely cannot tell the difference in how somebody speaks, deports themselves and behaves from observation and interaction over a reasonably short period then that reflects on you rather than on them. I also assume that you drive a 1992 Skoda because it gets you from A to B doesn't it, I also take it that you live in a caravan because it provides warm, secure accomodation without wasting money on all that unnecessary rubbish that estate agents make us feel is important like location, amenities and the like.
ReynoldsNo1: Apologies I forgot to add 'or female equivalent' to my post but as for the triumph of substance over form then that is your subjectivity speaking. You say your lawyer and doctor do not wear ties well not withstanding the female equivalent if they don't and you think that acceptable then that is your look out. Would I describe them as rank amateurs well sorry but yes as I for one would not engage their services and no most of my friends and family have a similar outlook. Then again I wouldnt send my children to one of these modern prep schools which wears polo shirts as a uniform rather than a shirt and tie either it is bad enough that too many schools are mixed these days but that is another debate entirely
Your ball....