If a panda didn’t look like a panda, would anyone care?
People are biased. They tend to favor those who resemble them and share their mannerisms. In my recent post, I delve into why I’ve been steadily building a rental property portfolio for my children. There are just too many biased people out there! But let’s shift gears and talk about pandas.
A British conservationist has sparked intense controversy by suggesting that pandas should be allowed to go extinct, putting an end to their supposed misery. He calls them “stupid” with poor survival instincts. It begs the question: if pandas looked like Gollum from ‘Lord of the Rings,’ would there be the same outcry? After all, the black rhino and beluga sturgeon face similar endangerment issues, yet they receive far less attention.
I recently attended an MBA recruiting fair where I observed something interesting. Several corporate representatives spent notably more time with a particular candidate. While most conversations lasted about three minutes, this candidate’s chats stretched to over ten minutes. Coincidence? Probably not, especially considering this candidate was likely the most physically attractive person there.
The Impact of Beauty
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According to a 2005 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, people considered “beautiful” earn about 5% more per hour than those like me.
Economists also discovered that women deemed obese by their BMI standards earned 17% less than those within the recommended BMI range in both 1981 and 1988. Short men face a 3% disadvantage compared to their taller counterparts. It’s frustrating!
Whether we like it or not, attractive people have an edge over the rest of us, even if everything else is equal. Imagine having a 5% advantage over the house in Vegas—you could clean out any major casino!
In fact, I’ve studied publicly traded gambling giants like Wynn and Las Vegas Sands, where any customer winning more than 3% of the time means massive losses for the quarter.
Gollum from LOTR: What Should We Do?
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Rather than resenting good-looking people for their genetic lottery win, let’s focus on what we can control—our own attributes, the “endogenous variables.”
1) Get in shape. If you want to lose that spare tire, it’s possible. Look at the contestants on “The Biggest Loser”—many lost over 30% of their body weight in just three months!
2) Eat well. Say goodbye to donuts, lattes, ice cream, and pizza. Eating right is more effective than just working out for losing weight.
3) Groom yourself. Cleanse your face, handle those pimples, smell nice, get a fresh haircut, and make sure there’s no broccoli stuck in your teeth. Ask a close friend or family member for an honest opinion of your appearance.
4) Upgrade your wardrobe. Dress to blend in with your manager or potential employer. And don’t forget nice shoes—they make a statement of success. Women pay attention to men’s shoes, and vice versa—our feet are the foundation, so wear them well. Looking the part helps you earn the part!
5) Keep your hands dry. Sweaty palms leave a bad impression—keep a small towel in your pocket to dry them just before a handshake. A bit of talcum or baby powder in the other pocket works wonders too!
Finding the Upside of Pandas
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Life isn’t fair, but unattractive people do have some advantages over the beautiful ones. After all, attractive people can’t get much better looking, but we can! The “ugly duckling formula” works because it’s about personal growth.
Let’s leverage our unique attributes to impress our colleagues. Across all fields, you’ll find many successful individuals who aren’t conventionally attractive—like Perez Hilton, the celebrity blogger who lost 40 pounds and transformed his appearance.
Since it’s proven that better-looking people earn more, it makes sense for us to strive for improvement too. Don’t let the beautiful people outshine us in areas where we deserve equal recognition! Unattractive people of the world, unite!
And lastly, take charge of your finances. Once you’re financially secure, your looks won’t matter as much. You’ll have the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want.
Remember, age, intelligence, and wealth are great equalizers in life. Focus on what you can control—your skills, your character, and your finances—and you’ll go far.
