09.01.2026

Why your last impression matters more than Your first

From professional conduct to personal goodbyes, mastering the art of a strong last impression defines lasting respect and gentlemanly caliber.

Words: Byron Tully

Photo: Alain Delon. Getty Images (photo for illustration only)

We are often told about the importance of making a good first impression.

It is wise advice because it is timeless and often accurate: make a good first impression, and odds are you have a good chance to experience a productive social, personal, or professional relationship with the other party.

Make a bad first impression and you’re crawling your way out of a hole to reestablish your credibility or attractiveness to others.

What we hear less about is making a good Last Impression. By this I mean how we finish a job or end a relationship.

In my decades of work, I’ve witnessed a wide variety of people who have behaved in remarkable ways at work and in their personal relationships with other.

Alain Delon.

The most impressive are the ones who start a job or project diligently, punctually, mentally prepared, with all the tools and information required. They maintain a steady pace throughout the process, even allowing for dips in productivity or quality. Then, the double-check their work and correct or revise as needed. They do a little more than was required. They review their work with their colleagues, explaining their choices and asking for input.

These are the core elements of making a good Last Impression, as well as a Lasting Impression at work.

With regards to our personal relationships, we may have lost the ability to say a final Goodbye. Technology and good intentions can make us believe that we’ll keep in touch with people when we move or change jobs. Often, we don’t.

We need to learn to say Goodbye.

We also need to remember the gentle art of ending a personal relationship honestly and kindly. If a friendship or a romance isn’t what it used to be, we need to honor that reality. We need to be candid with the friend or lover and admit that things have ended.

Full disclosure: I am horrible at this. I will simply gradually disappear over weeks and months, leaving people wandering what happened. Eventually, they’ll find out from mutual friends or finally from me that they’d crossed a line or that our friendship just wasn’t working for me anymore.

Don’t be like me. If you have cared about someone, have the courage to tell them that things have changed.

Don’t be Byron The Old Money Ghost.

In summary, we need to make sure our First Impression is a good one. More importantly, we need to make sure the Last Impression we leave people with is also just as good.

About Byron Tully (right)

Grandson of a newspaper publisher and son of an oil industry executive, Byron Tully is an author who also writes for the entertainment industry. His nonfiction debut, "The Old Money Book," was published in April of 2013 to excellent reviews and enjoys consistently strong sales worldwide. His other works include "The Old Money Guide To Marriage", "Old Money, New Woman: How To Manage Your Money and Your Life", and "Old Money Style - The Gentleman's Edition".

Byron regularly contributes to its blog, www.theoldmoneybook.com, which has been visited by over 1 million readers since 2014.

In February of 2020, "Old Money Style - The Gentleman's Edition" was published by Acorn Street Press. This fourth book in the Old Money series reveals the fundamentals of dressing well in a classic and timeless style. In November of 2020, Byron published a 2nd Edition of "The Old Money Book", which expands on his original classic. This 2nd Edition includes vital information and insights for readers as they navigate a very different, post-pandemic world.

Byron speaks frequently about the culture and values of Old Money. He has been interviewed by KABC New York's Financial Quarterback Show, The Huffington Post, and The Simple Dollar, among others.

He lives in Paris and is happily married to an Old Money Gal from Boston.

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Why your last impression matters more than Your first

From professional conduct to personal goodbyes, mastering the art of a strong last impression defines lasting respect and gentlemanly caliber.

Words: Byron Tully

Photo: Alain Delon. Getty Images (photo for illustration only)

We are often told about the importance of making a good first impression.

It is wise advice because it is timeless and often accurate: make a good first impression, and odds are you have a good chance to experience a productive social, personal, or professional relationship with the other party.

Make a bad first impression and you’re crawling your way out of a hole to reestablish your credibility or attractiveness to others.

What we hear less about is making a good Last Impression. By this I mean how we finish a job or end a relationship.

In my decades of work, I’ve witnessed a wide variety of people who have behaved in remarkable ways at work and in their personal relationships with other.

Alain Delon.

These are the core elements of making a good Last Impression, as well as a Lasting Impression at work.

With regards to our personal relationships, we may have lost the ability to say a final Goodbye. Technology and good intentions can make us believe that we’ll keep in touch with people when we move or change jobs. Often, we don’t.

We need to learn to say Goodbye.

We also need to remember the gentle art of ending a personal relationship honestly and kindly. If a friendship or a romance isn’t what it used to be, we need to honor that reality. We need to be candid with the friend or lover and admit that things have ended.

Full disclosure: I am horrible at this. I will simply gradually disappear over weeks and months, leaving people wandering what happened. Eventually, they’ll find out from mutual friends or finally from me that they’d crossed a line or that our friendship just wasn’t working for me anymore.

Don’t be like me. If you have cared about someone, have the courage to tell them that things have changed.

Don’t be Byron The Old Money Ghost.

In summary, we need to make sure our First Impression is a good one. More importantly, we need to make sure the Last Impression we leave people with is also just as good.

About Byron Tully (right)

Byron regularly contributes to its blog, www.theoldmoneybook.com, which has been visited by over 1 million readers since 2014.

Byron speaks frequently about the culture and values of Old Money. He has been interviewed by KABC New York's Financial Quarterback Show, The Huffington Post, and The Simple Dollar, among others.

He lives in Paris and is happily married to an Old Money Gal from Boston.

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