First impression counts?

First impression is important.

First impression lasts.

That’s what we have been told and therefore, we use that to judge others when we meet them for the first time.

While there is some truth to that statement, I don’t think first impression is the only deciding factor of a person’s success or ability.

I recently saw this video on The X Factor UK. It was the audition of Christopher Maloney. Do watch it first before you read the rest of the post.

Christopher didn’t have a good first impression.

He was shaking. He was nervous. He looked like he will mess it up.

We would write him off because of his first impression.

At first glance, he was hopeless.

At first sight, he was likely not to succeed.

And many times, we do that to others.

We take a first look at someone and make a judgment of that person.

We think he’s capable just because he dressed in a suit.

We think he’s lazy just because he’s a little slip slop in his dressing.

We think she’s brilliant because she speaks well.

We think she’s unable to commit because she’s a mum.

We tend to form quick judgment of others based on our first impression.

And the sad part is, it often sticks.

Our first impression is often our last impression.

Yet, I’ve realized that many times, we’re missing something when we base our judgment simply on our first impression.

We lose something when we distil people to their first impressions.

Just as how Christopher Maloney shone when he sung, despite his first impression, maybe people will shine when we give them a chance to, despite their first impressions.

I guess just as how we all appreciate others giving us a second chance when we don’t excel at the first try, maybe we should cut others some slack.

Maybe there are people in your life who rubbed you off the wrong way with their first impressions and you wrote them off.

But maybe they haven’t had the opportunity to open their mouth the way Christopher did and wowed the audience.

Would you not give them a chance?

On the other hand, let’s not be too quick to say whether someone is awesome and wonderful just because of that first impression too.

Let’s take time to observe.

At the end of the day, consistency is key and will last.

A flash in the pan is only good for once.

Commitment and consistent performance are what count in the long run.