This was the motto of my good friend Ben Jones. Ben tragically passed away in 2018, but his life motto lives abundantly with us.

I regularly (daily) meet new clients that say they “don’t have to dress up anymore.” I think about Ben when I hear this. Have to? You have to worry about dressing well for an upcoming event? You don’t have to do anything. You don’t have to get out of bed in the morning. You don’t have to brush your teeth. You don’t have to put clothes on! You get to.

How would the bride and groom of a wedding respond if they heard you say you “had to go to their wedding?” How about your boss if you said you “had to go to work again?”
It’s easy to see how this attitude, that has permeated our culture, can affect everything we do. Some things, like what we wear, tend to get the short end of the stick on the hierarchy of choice. If we have a “have to” attitude we’re aiming for mediocrity.

Dressing well is having a “get to” attitude. When you walk out of the door you know that you look and feel your best. There needs to be a shift in our thinking. Every event, every outing, every celebration is an opportunity to put your best self forward.

Dressing well is a reflection of who you are. It reflects your personality, your style, your tastes, your organization, your preparedness. Ultimately, it’s an opportunity you get to showcase who you are. No one has to dress well. Look at the resurgence in men’s grooming. Why did this have to be done? Because men stopped caring about the way they looked. Whether or not you want to admit it, your appearance matters. Part of that appearance is dressing well when it comes to your clothing.

A better approach—Ben’s approach—is that we get to enjoy dressing well. Ben always made the most of every opportunity. Life is rich and full of moments that will be marked in our minds and captured for us to look at.