Vol. 1, Issue 5 July
11,
2007 |
Why Image-on-the-1's? Because your
image is your most powerful communication tool.
We know your image matters to you and
your image matters to us. You've got questions and
we've got answers. So, on the 1st, 11th and 21st of
each month, we'd like to answer your questions and
provide you with tips and tools that you can really
use.
Stay tuned for
on-going information that will help you save time,
money and energy and guarantee
that you present your very best self to your world everyday. |
 I'm
Lauren Solomon, President of LS Image Associates,
and
along with my team of Experts, I'd like to welcome you to
Image-on-the-1's.
It's our
pleasure and our goal to use your questions
as our guide to the topics we address in each
issue. Please
keep your comments and questions coming. Visit
us at www.LSimage.com or
send your questions and/or comments to AskLauren@LSimage.com.
We look forward to hearing from
you.
Cheers!
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| Seasonal
Updates - 7 Easy Steps to Staying Fresh as
a Daisy and at the Top of Your Game
OK,
yes, I'm from New York. And, yes, I understand
the basics of baseball - the Yankees play
at Yankee Stadium and the Mets, they play
at the other one. Baseball season starts
with Spring Fever and ends with...preferably
a subway series playoff. Then we swing
into football, basketball and hockey. Yes,
we live in a seasonal world.
In case you haven't thought about it this
way before...your image has seasons, too.
If we look at ourselves, yes, preferably
in a full length mirror, we can usually see
the last season of our inner-delight, when
we felt young, fresh, happy, sexy...pick
your own descriptor. Further, we can look
in the stores and see the image of Fall clothing
arriving in early July at the height of summer,
before you've even had a chance to wear your
new teeny-weenie-yellow-polka-dot bikini.
Then, when you're ready to shop for cashmere,
say in October, the racks are bare and the
Super Sale signs pop up like daisies
in the field. It's as frustrating to the
would-be-shopper as I imagine it is for Derek
Jeeter to review this season's stats for
his team.
While, unfortunately, I have no words of
wisdom for the Yankees, except perhaps PLAY!
I do have a few thoughts on how to keep yourself
and your performance fresh, current, crowd-pleasing
and always at the top of your game.
- Keep your hair
style current. Be sure it flatters
your face, is proportionate to your
body, and requires no pushing, tugging
or adjusting in public. If your stylist
hasn't been moving you forward on a
regular basis, move yourself to a new
stylist.
- Dress YOUR body as it is today. Perfect
fit will make an inexpensive garment
look like a million bucks. And, you deserve
to look great at every weight. A talented
tailor is worth his/her weight in gold.
- Keep at least one great suit in your
best neutral. It will come in handy.
And, it will flatter you, hiding a myriad
of tales and sins along your way. For
men - with or without a tie, a total
look is always a winner.
- Keep at least
two great pair of shoes for business.
For women - one basic
black and one in a color to spice up
your look. For men - one lace up and
one slip on. Alternate between them for
longer life of the shoe and an immediate
style upgrade. Men -match your belts
to your shoes for instant, true style-icon
appeal.
- Get a manicure. Yes - Everyone! I don't
dare mandate a pedicure (since biz shoes
never have open toes. But you knew that
already.) But, a manicure for women -
keep nails short, neat and neutral. For
men - no polish just a good buffing,
will bring out a healthier nail and cuticle.
People see your hands, your face and
your shoes most of all. Make the vista
memorable in the best way.
- Women - Keep your make up polished
and perfect. Yes, it takes a few wisely-invested
minutes of practiced application to make
it look like you have nothing on. Men
- if this interests you, please schedule
a private consultation.
- Take advantage
of the season and the super sales.
Shop end of season for the basics.
For women - great tops in season-appropriate
fabrics, neutral colors and simple styles
that are guaranteed to return each year
as the perfect building blocks in any
wardrobe. For men - grab those great
dress shirts in white, blue and “those
other colors”. And, while you're at it,
get some new ties to go with them. You
can wear them for business and then out
for dinner with your sexy jeans. Oh,
we haven't gotten you sexy jeans yet...next
season
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 See
Lauren's
Summer
Style Wardrobe Updates
for Women and Men
on CareerTV |
|
 Order your personal copy of
Image Matters!
First Steps on the Journey to Your Best Self
by Lauren Solomon
Order Now |
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E-Image
Inquiry
Q:
I know a business person who is a great
professional: well regarded, excellent
work product and work ethic, strong character,
etc. But his/her personal image is outdated
and uninspiring at best. I tried a “soft” suggestion about
getting an image upgrade, but it didn't
take. Without coming right out and saying, “You really need
to spend time with Lauren,” how do I get
this message across? I don't want to sound
like the judgmental critic I probably am.
A: I
must admit, this is an on-going challenge
for many, including me. You can see your
colleague's/associate's potential, and
your desire to help is genuine and heart-felt,
not critical or judgmental in any way.
Nevertheless, we all know that only “other
people” need help with their image. Here
are 3 approaches I've recommended and used
successfully in the past:
- Ask questions.
In a private conversation ask what
works and what doesn't work in your
colleague's current situation. If everything
is great and there is no room for improvement,
let go and move on. If business could
be better, certain contracts or potential
clients fell through, s/he didn't get
the raise, promotion or the hoped-for-opportunity,
acknowledge readily that s/he is a “great professional,” is
well-regarded and doing quality work.
Clearly, his/her technical skills are
not in question. Nevertheless, there
may be an opportunity to take an
objective, unconventional look at
what could be done differently. Perhaps
others' perceptions of your colleague
do not align with yours and his/her
own. Suggest that this might be worthy
of an external review with an image professional.
After all, we all need to stay fresh
and current all the time. You'd hire
a coach or trainer to improve your backswing...how
about one to help keep your front game
polished and cutting edge?
- If you work
within a team structure, you might
consider an internal team
exercise where everyone on the team goes
through an image upgrade as part of a
broader “brand alignment” initiative.
Since teams must successfully represent
each other with equal levels of professionalism,
engaging an external professional for
help should be a requirement of the business
strategy. I can't tell you how many times
I've been hired to speak to groups of
hundreds in order to get the message
to one person.
- Sometimes you
are left with the truth. While it may
feel like you are delivering a message
with a sledge hammer...delivering a
genuine, caring message that carries
only your colleague's best interest at
its heart may help to cushion the
mallet just a bit.
Keep
in mind that no matter how
gently or directly you deliver any message,
people can only hear what they are ready
to hear. Once you deliver the message, you're
done. Let it go. Understand that your
colleague may not completely appreciate what
you've said or the effort you've made
to be kind and considerate in delivering
the message. It may take a minute, an hour,
a month or a year, but one day s/he will
thank you, sincerely.
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