Gravitas and sprezzatura

I once had a teacher who said that the secret to being treated like a professional was to exemplify “gravitas” and “sprezzatura.”

In other words, to carry yourself with an air of “solemn carelessness.”

She then explained how she purchased a “new Coach purse every year” to give the impression that she meant business.

Frankly, I don’t think that’s very good advice.

I think if that if you want to be treated with respect, you should earn it.

And if you want to feel confident, you need experience.

Perhaps a better word-pair might be “perspicacity and preparedness.”

Perspicacity as in ‘penetrating insight’, as in ‘maybe I don’t a $400 purse to feel accomplished.’

And preparedness, because confidence is a by-product of exposure, of going first, and most importantly, being so good you have little reason to question your ability.

With little doubt, being so good they can’t ignore you is the best way to ensure that you aren’t.