<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">How you start your day can set the tone for everything that follows. A healthy life starts with your morning routine and a positive outlook. Right? What does your morning routine look and sound like? </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Hit snooze bar twice</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Get up 10 minutes late</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Skip breakfast</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Shower quickly</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Stand in front of your closet and say “I have nothing to wear” or “I guess I’ll wear this old thing today”. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Life is difficult enough without having to be frustrated or distracted every day by “what to wear”. Having a wardrobe that supports your personality and lifestyle may not make getting out of bed easier but it will certainly help you get out the door faster and feeling more confident. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt">“Personal Branding Through Appearance”</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt"> is a philosophy as much as it is a process. An approach designed from the ground up to help you take control of how you look, how you feel, and how others respond to you. Everyone from busy moms to corporate recruiters are taking note of the effect that appearance can have on overall mood and well being. It’s not just about how you are perceived, its also how you feel. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">In a recent CNN article it was noted that h<span style="color: black">ow someone is dressed was the third most important attribute in getting a new job, according to a study by Syracuse University and Total Executive Inc. of 300 executive recruiters, chief executives and directors of personnel. That's behind communication and presentation skills.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black">By understanding the effects and benefits of “Personal Branding Through Appearance” you can avoid uncomfortable situations of feeling “not quite right” for the setting. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt">Branding 101: </span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">When a company develops a brand they take into account their history, values, key attributes and their audience. By identifying those elements they can create a way to message themselves to their ideal consumer. As a consumer we identify with that brand’s logo, and based on our experiences with the product or service we have an emotional reaction to it. Obviously that company hopes it is a positive reaction that compels you to purchase their product and have a deeper relationship with their brand. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt">Personal Branding 101:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Each day we encounter dozens, even hundreds of people. Some of them we know, some we meet for the first time and others we’ll spend mere seconds in their presence. Mere seconds is all it takes for you to make a lasting impression on another person. Why wouldn’t you want it be an impression that most directly reflects who you are, what your goals are, and how you want people to connect with you? </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">If you are a brand then your wardrobe is your logo. What is the lasting impression that your wardrobe is telling people that you encounter throughout your day? One way to determine that is to identify what your Personal Brand is. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt">Identifying Your Brand:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Start by asking yourself these questions to understand what purpose your wardrobe needs to serve and how it should function to support you. </span></div><ol style="margin-top: 0in"><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">“What are my goals?” Is it to to change careers? Be considered for a promotion? Communicate age or expertise in your field? Get out of the house quickly felling more confident and put together? These are all good questions that will help determine the tone of your brand. </span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">“Who is my audience?” Colleagues? Superiors? Peers? We all want to be respected by our peers, right? Think of who is most supportive of your goals and consider them as part of your audience. </span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">“What are the traits of my personality that I attribute to my success and want to be most noted for?” Think of what you are good at, most proud of or passionate about. It may be words like: “tenacity, creative, vital, reliable, resourceful”. This is a powerful question that not only builds confidence but can bring real clarity to the situation of your wardrobe.</span></li></ol><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">You’re done! Feels pretty good, doesn’t it? You’ve just started the process of building your brand. Now we can apply it to creating a wardrobe that supports that vision. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt">Creating Your Wardrobe-Logo</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt">:</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Take the answers to those previous questions and use them as a filter to look at your wardrobe – not just the foot and half in the front of your closet, but the whole closet. All of them, if you have more than one closet. And ask yourself if each piece serves a purpose and supports the elements of your brand. Some examples might be:</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">“Does having nothing except pale blue oxford shirts support my seasoned expertise and complexity of character?”</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">“Is having only one sweat suit to wear every day to go from the playground to a PTA meeting effecting my level of confidence?” </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">“Is a tired and dated suit communicating my desire for advancement and sense of resourcefulness?” </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt">If you notice a pattern in your answers that aren’t supportive of your goals it is probably a good time to address your personal brand in your appearance. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt">Addressing Your Personal Brand in Your Appearance</span></b></div><p><span style="font-size: 11pt">The Philosophy behind “Personal Branding Through Appearance” is to have a wardrobe that is dictated by your personality and lifestyle, and not by what is in ‘fashion’ or ‘trendy’. By utilizing this philosophy you can have a style that will be satisfying and sustainable for a lot longer than just following trends. Part of building that style is to evaluate aspects such as fit, function, color and shopping habits. One way to gain proficiency in this would be to work with a Personal Style Consultant that understands “Personal Branding Through Appearance”, apparel construction, color theory, and will be a good resource for you. Working with a Personal Style consultant can save you a tremendous amount of money in costly mistakes purchased and bring clarity, focus and purpose to your wardrobe.</span></p>
2008-05-01T02:43:03Z
-23.2499
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17
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how-to-develop-your-personal-brand-one-pant-leg-at-a-time
12
2008-05-02T14:10:30Z
2008-05-02T14:10:30Z
<p>As a follow up to the previously posted article on "The Art of Personal Branding Through Appearance", this will provide more tactical steps and practicle applications.</p>
How To Develop Your Personal Brand, One Pant Leg At A Time
0
2009-02-24T09:44:13Z