Ask HN: Does appearance matter more than we admit as founders?

I’ve been thinking about something that feels a little taboo to talk about.

Founders spend a lot of time trying to improve themselves outside of work—getting in shape, improving how they communicate, dressing better, whitening their teeth, getting LASIK, fixing hair loss, working on executive presence, etc.

None of those things directly make the product better, but they can absolutely change how you’re perceived, and maybe even how you perceive yourself.

I’m curious whether people think appearance (or more broadly, how you present yourself) has become a bigger part of the job than it used to be. Is it because we’re constantly on Zoom, podcasts, conference stages, and social media? Or has it always mattered and we’re just more willing to talk about it now?

For those who’ve made one of these changes, did it actually have an impact? Not just personally, but professionally. Did it change your confidence? Fundraising? Hiring? Sales? Networking? Dating? Or was the biggest change simply how you felt about yourself?

And if you’ve chosen not to make those kinds of changes, was that because you didn’t think they’d matter, or because they didn’t align with how you wanted to present yourself?

I have a feeling there are a lot of stories behind the decisions people make here, and I’d genuinely like to hear them.

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maxzhdev an hour ago | parent | next [-]

I agree that this is human nature. Marketing sometimes matters much more than the product itself. We all know examples of people buying things they don’t need. The seller's appearance, how he communicates, etc. also part of marketing

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JohnFen 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I think it matters about the same as it always has. Appearance is a critically important part of communication and social interaction. Always has been, and always will be. As Frank Zappa once said during a concert: "Everybody in this room is wearing a uniform, and don't kid yourself."

I never thought this was some sort of taboo "nobody talks about this" topic, though. It's been openly and freely discussed for longer than I've been alive.

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jmaha 7 hours ago | parent [-]

I think it's more that it's generally not as common a topic in SF, where aesthetics don't seem to matter as much. This might be different with founders and tech workers in places like NYC, but in SF it definitely doesn't seem that common.

Although not entirely appearance related, Slow Ventures put out books and seminars to help founders not only look and dress better, but also be more intentionally professional, that seems to suggest there's a drift away from startup swag to sport coats.

That got me wondering if aesthetics like hair transplants, breast implants, and similar were as common in tech as they seem to be in Vegas, Miami, or LA, but that it's just not discussed as much.

	▲	JohnFen 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I think aesthetics matter as much in SF as anywhere else. People hew to a certain look. It's just that the desired aesthetics differ there from most other places. Looking different from the normies is part of the aesthetics of that subculture. And that aspect of appearance is what various advisors are talking about when it comes to appearance. If you're wanting to get, say, a group of investors to give you a pile of money, or to woo a hotshot dev over to your company, or whatever, what you're facing is a communications problem. How you look, speak, dress, and carry yourself is a huge part of that communication. Through them, you're communicating something -- whether you intend to be or not -- so the point is that you should be communicating with intentionality. Different subcultures have different aesthetic languages, and you do best by speaking in the language of those you're addressing.

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conartist6 9 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Matters less than it ever has. Everyone and their grandma is obsessed with appearances only right now. The winning move in that game is not to play

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NotParth11 9 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

honestly, i believe this is more about basic human nature. Tell me, who are people going to take more seriously at first glance. Someone who shows up to a seminar with a bed head and a crappy physique, or a person who takes care of their body, makes sure he looks well. But at the end, the product is what matters.

	▲	jmaha 7 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Definitely agree the product is what matters, but it (likely) helps to either be physically attractive or confident, or both, conveying to investors, customers and whomever else to offer their time and attention to listen to you.

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arm32 9 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Extremely true. Come on. It's obvious.