A saying goes ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’, and as much as I agree, I must add ‘the cover of a book must match its contents’
Okay, so I know this could stir up some arguments or rather some brilliant discourse. Literally, I wouldn’t read a book with an unattractive cover. That’s the truth. So even though the contents may be really great, I would miss it and could care less because the cover sucked!

Now let’s bring this analogy of the book and its cover to us. You’re smart, intelligent, beautiful on the inside, and you’re fun to be with…but no one actually ‘wants’ to be with you. Ever asked why? Quick answer, check your cover! Does it yell am boring, insecure, not smart, with a wrong fashion sense and so on…?!

Lots of people pay less attention to the cover the book. While building the contents is very important, making the cover as pretty on the outside is also necessary.
Wonder why you’re still single, unemployed, not easily approached…? Please check your cover!

While some books have hard covers, others are made of paper backs. We select the books we read unconsciously by the cover. There’s a way bestsellers look and that’s why they are called bestsellers! They aren’t unattractive or boring. They have that magnetic feel that pulls you to the book.

Dressing is a huge part of the packaging process. It is fondly said ‘the way you dress is the way you would be addressed’ and I have to add this ‘dress the way you want people to see you’. Lots of people wear funny stuffs and later feel judged for it. Well, if I see you in total black with dark make up and lots of piercing, its normal for me to think you’re Gothic! But on a deeper look, not all who dress that way are really gloomy.
Let your dressing show who you are on the inside. If you’re decent and modest at heart, why fool the populace and reduce your chances by wearing indecent clothes?

I hear of guys who do have the money to put on good clothing but would rather spend the money on video games and risk coming out looking like they’ve got no future ambitions…how’s a lady supposed to trip for you?! Some use the flimsy excuse that the girl has gotta be more into him than into his appearance. While that is true, I must say a girl won’t want to go past the cover if it is repulsive, no matter how attractive the inside could be!

It’s safe to say lots of people have lost job opportunities because of their covers. While the CV is extremely beautiful, the person the employers see in front of them is totally the opposite. The outfit is appalling, the hair is something else! Gosh! The breath is another ball game! These employers take note of all these things and conclude based on the unsavory cover of the book. Need I tell you what that conclusion is?

Then there is the distracting dressing where everything one puts on distracts the audience from what he or she is saying. Don’t let your cover be too distracting! There are some books which have really flashy covers with so much going on…I go through such books and don’t remember the contents, just the cover.

Yes I want you to design your book cover in a very pleasing way but please don’t let it outshine the inside! Imagine a getting a present on Christmas day. A well wrapped present, beautiful on the outside, you can’t even wait to open it. You quickly tear off the wrapping sheets and voila! Its a pen. Not a gold pen, not even a ball pen, just a regular pen. Am sure you would be disappointed and wonder why there was so much wrapping sheet. Your friend could have just given you the pen without the wrapping sheet. That’s the same feeling when you see a really cute book cover with absolutely no content. The kinda book you sleep through!

Friends, not to be harsh or anything, I just want you to pay more attention to the cover of your book so that people would love to read you. How do you dress? How do you talk? Do you have manners? Are you insultive? Do you talk too much? Have people constantly complained about your style? Take some time out today and do a self check! Your outside has gotta be as attractive as your inside! In the immortal words of Steve Harris, never dress like a suspect and expect people to treat you like a prospect.

It’s my desire that your live a fabulous life!

 Mfon Etuk, 2014.