Physical Attractiveness: A Key Ingredient to Success - Essay Example

your first and (your Physical Attractiveness: A Key Ingredient to Success? At a family gathering ofours, I overheard one of my cousins sharing a story about how he intentionally interviewed pretty applicants during one hiring period at his company. My cousin is a Human Resource manager for a clothes store and often shared his insights on how personal appearance can give one’s career a boost. I always find myself arguing with him about this topic. Indeed, a beautiful saleslady and a handsome customer service officer may appeal more to customers.

However, I think physical attractiveness does not necessary lead towards success like what my cousin and other people would like to think. The young Bill Gates (Bill) who invented one the most popular and most used software program in the world was a geek, complete with the unruly hair, big horn-rimmed glasses and sweater. Even today, after reaping the success of Microsoft, Bill Gates’ appearance pales in comparison to attractive celebrities like Brad Pitt and Chris Hemsworth. Nevertheless, Gates is one of the richest people in the world.

In my opinion, success has greatly to do with an individual’s set of skills. The above example shows how being knowledgeable in computers and not physical attractiveness ushered Gates into the realm of success. I think if a person does not use any of his skills this individual will not be able to achieve anything in his life. In this sense, it does not matter whether the person is pleasing to the eye or not. There are even people in show business who depend on their unattractiveness for their popularity.

The audience loves them because this group of entertainers and their humble appearances make them easier to relate to than attractive actors and actresses. Another reason I disagree that physical attractiveness leads to success is because this way of thinking is very judgmental. It is similar to saying unattractive people will not be achieve triumph and this statement is very untrue. I know for a fact that there are people in history who were victorious in their endeavors despite being plain-looking.

They had the charisma and the passion to continue doing what they were supposed to do and so they were able to gather support and achieve what they wanted. Perfect examples of these individuals are Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela (Nelson) and Corazon Aquino (Maria). They were very simple people in every way and yet they became great leaders of their countries. Their names are permanently written in world history for their achievements unlike other popular people with pretty faces. Lastly, I believe the industry that one works is a better criterion to measure success than one’s good looks.

There are work environments where being aesthetically appealing does not matter at all. People who work in factories and the like are focused on getting promoted and looking beautiful does not really figure in when upper management in these industries make that kind of decision. Truly, physical attractiveness may contribute to the success of an individual. However, for me, it is not a key ingredient at all. I believe that more than being good-looking, a person should strive to be successful and depend on his innate skills and industriousness.

It is best remembered that beauty, unlike wisdom, fades with age. Work Cited: “Bill Gates: The Early Years.” TIME Photos. Time Inc., 2013. Web. 04 July 2013. "Maria Corazon Aquino." Bio. A+E Television Networks, LLC, 2013. Web. 04 July 2013. “Nelson Mandela – Biographical.” Nobelprize.org. The Nobel Foundation, 1993. Web. 04 July 2013.