the power of preconceived notions

Recently, a journal published by the University of Connecticut included an interesting article regarding memory and the influences our unique perceptions have on them. The article, written by Ed Chang, considers the impact of "first impressions" and how consciously observing others perception of you can influence your life and career. As I read through the article there were numerous points that I could, not only, understand, but relate to.

For example, Chang considers how pitching a presentation to a possible client is one of the most useful situations in which understanding how you are perceived can benefit you. Besides the fact that these strangers have never met you and you are attempting to sell them somthing, they also walk in with their own preconceived notion regarding your personality. Does that seem fair? Yes and no; yes, it does seem helpful because in the stone age when you saw something sharp, you knew it was sharp for the rest of your life. But it seems rather inneffective to assume qualities of person based on their deamenor and your repore with them. When you and the prospective clients walk out of that room, their preconceived notions and their initial reactions are constantly overlapping, comparing you to previous employies, childhood experiences, hell, possibly even their grandfather depending on your cologne.

Change argues that being aware of your outward perception is extremely important and influential. In this respect I completely agree with him. However it highlights greater concerns such as the blindness we can succumb to by allowing our preconceived notions to dictate our decisions. However, It's been said for roughly the past ten years: "it's not what you do, it's who you know." So I doubt that will change any time soon, at least as long as the population continues to grow exponentially.

So.... what happened to the American Dream?