The article focuses on the importance of first impressions in a person's social life. First impressions are crucial because they set the stage for future conversations, relationships, and business. Face-to-face communication matters, but so do all of the other ways people send messages about themselves. People should determine how they want to be perceived rather than wait to be labeled. People should choose three descriptive words they would like others to associate with their name, and then consciously behave and speak in ways that support those descriptions.