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.