Dressing the part

I have said it before and perhaps I will say it again: My big "dream" or "vision" or what-have-you when I was growing up was to have a cool job where I got to wear nice clothes. Yes, part of this I'm sure had to do with my love of Barbies, or maybe it was the other way around... Any way, I have finally come to the point where I am holding things that I would like to accomplish or be away from myself. In other words, I am becoming aware of specific actions that I am taking or not taking so that I can continue to tell myself that I am not that person. I continue to look in the mirror and think I don't look like the person I thought I would be so I must not be. A lot of this for me also involves fitness and maintaining a healthy weight range. I have made so many strides in the past few years that have caused me to be more healthy. But why am I unable to take this last step? The answer finally came to me this week. I was waiting for someone else to give me permission. I was waiting to feel some sort of outer change, before I felt that I deserved to change the way I wanted to. I am now reminding myself that no one can change me but me. I am the one getting dressed in the morning. I am the one not working out consistently. I am the one that brings less-than clothes into my home. I am the one that refuses to shop at stores where I know I will find high-quality professional clothing. I am the one that says that I must get in proper shape before I can spend any real money on clothing. I am the one telling myself that I am just being vain and that it isn't worth the extra money.

Today walking into work I saw a women waiting in the lobby to visit someone. She was wearing a full grey suit with a collared shirt underneath. I thought wow, she must really high up in her company. That assumption just from a 5 second glance. If that much is determined in a 5 second glance at a stranger, then how much power am I missing out on daily by not dressing the part?