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In my experience guys tend to come in one of three basic personalities: “genuine”, “faker” and “rain maker”.
The “genuine” guys aren’t flashy and there not into pretending to be something or somebody their not. A “rain maker” is someone who not only gives off the image of being successful but who has the money, skills and talents to back it up. A “faker” is someone who is aspiring to be a “rain maker” but either isn’t there yet or may never get there. The term comes from “fake it ‘til you make it”.
The list below is designed to help you distinguish the “fakers” from the “rain makers”.
Watches I almost immediately disregard what type of watch a guy is wearing because in my opinion, a watch is just about the only widely acceptable jewelry a man can wear so if a guy wants to give the image of making lots of money they buy well known luxury brand watches that the average Joe would recognize such as a Rolex. Also, I’ve seen too many very nice fake Rolexes (aka Fo-Lex) for me to tell at a distance if it is real of not.
Dress shirts Are there any signs of fraying around the cuffs or elbows? Does the shirt look professionally cleaned and pressed or was it washed and ironed at home?
Neck Does the dress shirt look properly fitted around the neck or is the shirt too small or too big? “Fakers” can’t afford to replace their shirts as often so this is usually one of the first signs I come across.
Neck (2) Can you see the stitching along the edge of the collar? Higher end shirts tend to have smaller stitching that is placed closer to the edge of the collar then lower end shirts.
Suits I may not be able to tell the designer of the suit, but I can tell if you had it tailored recently. Suits that look baggy or don’t fit right lead me to believe you don’t visit the tailor often.
Belts Leather belts tend to look dry and cracked as they age. Older belts usually indicate “faker”
Pants Looking for fraying along the bottom back cuff near the heel. Pants that are not properly tailored touch the ground and become worn over time.
Sunglasses Are they scratched or do they show other signs of excessive wear?
Posture Self confidence and good posture tend to go hand in hand. If he is saying the words that he is a winner but his shoulders are slouching and he is looking down at his feet, this tells me he doesn’t believe he is a winner.
Speaking / to Listening Ratio “Fakers” tend speak more than they listen while “rain makers” tend to listen more than they speak.
Socks If money was tight and you had to skimp on something, chances are you would skimp in the area you felt people would look at such as socks.
Shoes Are they polished or do they look dry and cracked? How worn do the bottom look? “Rain makers” tend to own more dress shoes then “fakers” so the shoes they wear appear newer longer.
Cars Does the car look likes it’s been professionally detailed? Getting your car washed on a regular basis is one area “fakers” cut back on expenses.
Industry knowledge I’ve never met a “rain maker” who didn’t have detailed knowledge of their industry’s major companies, current trends and future opportunities. “Fakers” may know a few key phrases or acronyms but if you press them for more you will find out the knowledge well was pretty shallow.
Physique “Rain makers” have the financial means to outsource more of their routine responsibilities (lawn care, housekeeping, cooking, etc.) than “fakers” leaving more time to focus on their health.
