Posts Tagged ‘Michigan corporate image consulting’

(Video) Made in New York, But From Detroit – Superbowl Ad FTW

Sunday, February 6th, 2011

Photo Credit: warmingglow.uproxx.com

I was made in New York, but I’m from Detroit.  There, I said it!

Thanks Chrysler and Eminem for the 2:03-minute ad that helped me to say that with pride.

So many fellow Americans have written off my town.  Real Talk:  My rah rah left a long time ago.  But I live here; pay taxes here; married here; raised my child here; obtained my degree here; make my money here.  This is my base.  So I can’t write off this place.

No, I’ve never stepped foot through a factory door, but when the Big 3 faltered and began to crumple it affected me.  It still does.  Middle class assassination forced me into what is being labeled today as ”the New Normal.”  I had to count my losses. But I’m a NYDETer and I know how to adjust. I know that every day I have breath is a day closer to my ascension above and beyond what was, and closer to yet another “New Normal”.

Not all, but many Americans have no clue what the people of The D are made of or of our hardships and our struggles. Clearly. My Twitter timeline made this observation pretty apparent:

Tweet:   “this commercial is kinda raw”
We’re raw at times but we’re authentic and real.

Tweet:  “does eminem even live in detroit anymoer?”
Yep, he never left!

Tweet: “The last Eminem ad was strong—he’s about integrity, working-class grit, Detroit and so is whatever car company it was for. I think.”
It was Chrysler. Pay attention. And yes they do care.

Tweet: “. . . i could give a f**k about chrysler. But we all know i got love for Em and Tha D”
Give a f**k about Chrysler; they got love for Em, The D and The people.

Tweet:   “..now everyone loves Chrysler, Em and has Detroit pride. One day the Bandwagon Express will deny admission…”
Hey, I’m guilty.

Tweet: “THIS IS A SERIOUS QUESTION: based on the amnt of SuperBowl car ads, do americans really believe buying cars will jumpstart the economy?!?”
Response Tweet: “SERIOUS ANSWER: YES. On average each American car sold pumps something like 30K back into the US economy in the form of wages etc.”
Tweet to Response Tweet:  “Really?!?”

Really!!!

But Detroiters are as tough as the steel used in the cars they make and they love, are passionate about and have pride in this town as evidenced by other tweets.

So again, thanks Chrysler and Eminem for that 2:03-minute ad that had people talking, thinking, feeling Detroit.

Now Detroit. Listen up. You’ve got the spotlight . . . REPRESENT!


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Posted in Body Analysis, Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal, Petite | 1 Comment »

(Pics) Not Mad At Men’s Fall 2011 Fashion – Loving It!

Thursday, January 27th, 2011


Hermès Fall 2011

Although the airing date for the fifth season of the television series “Man Men” is questionable, what’s certain is the show’s continued veritable sartorial influence on fashion. Since its 2007 premier, menswear has moved from uber-casual and overly relaxed to a more gentlemanly approach to dressing. For Fall 2010 we witnessed the minimalism trend highlighting classic shapes; timeless neutral colors; and exquisite fabrics, mixed together with a chic, modern edge. Paris runways indicated this powerful approach to dressing for men will continue through Fall 2011. Designers revealed status-raising styles, which proselytized the theory of less being more. While the sartorial trademarks of the men from the Sterling Cooper advertising agency may not soon be visible from our living rooms, one thing is certain. Stylish men have the option to continue bringing that touch of madness into their closets.

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Posted in Body Analysis, Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal | 1 Comment »

(Video) Lawyers Need to Get Back to Dressing Like Lawyers

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Photo Credit ZZegnaOfficial

I’ve worked in the legal industry for more than 15 years and have seen a number of changes. The most obvious change surrounds business attire. Lawyers, particularly those new to the field, seem to have forgotten that their profession is one of the highest paying and most prestigious careers on Earth. Why else would those working in an industry where “smart” dressing is the uniform of a powerful and successful lawyer dumb down to a more slovenly approach to dressing?  I remember a time when aspiring professionals could learn a lot about dressing professionally from attorneys. Today, it’s hard to differentiate who’s the attorney and who’s staff. Clearly, dress codes for today’s lawyers are much different than they were 15 years ago.  Still, looking crisp, polished, authoritative and professional, even when wearing business casual attire, rules.  Whether choosing to sport a power suit or a relaxed look, lawyers should always dress to impress.

  • Take Pride in Your Look and Your Profession
    Take pride in your image as an attorney.  You’ve worked hard to earn that J.D.  Look the part.
  • Buy the Highest Quality Clothing You Can Afford
    Invest in a high-quality suits.  Avoid less expensive, trendier outfits. Classics will stand the test of time. You can always spice things up with accessories.
  • Ladies, Make Sure You’re Wearing the Right Foundations
    Consider the quintessential items that should go underneath; Undergarments. That includes everything from Bras and Camisoles to Control Tops and Body Shapers.  These often forgotten pieces can truly make or break your look.
  • Wear Colors that Flatter You
    Based on your hair color, eye color and skin tone, some colors will naturally look better on you than others. Take the time to find out which colors flatter you most and build your wardrobe accordingly.
  • Find a Really Great Tailor
    Fit is paramount.  Ill-fitted clothes look cheap no matter how much they cost. Get referrals from the well-dressed people at your firm.
  • Find a Good Dry Cleaners, Too
    Ask your fashionable friends who they use and try different ones before making a decision.
  • Wear Jewelry Judiciously
    Tasteful accessories and jewelry can add interest to any outfit. A classic, but understated watch is a most. 
  • Stay Light on Perfume and Cologne
    Like jewelry, too much of a good thing is not a good thing at all. Think about how you reacted the last time you were trapped in an elevator with someone wearing way too much cheap perfume. Don’t let that be you!
  • It’s Better to Overdress than Underdress
    Nobody will fault you if you dress too nicely. And you can always “dress down” if you feel overdressed in a particular situation.

Check out these videos to help you put together a powerful look.

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Posted in Body Analysis, Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal | 3 Comments »

(Video) The Ugly Truth About Beauty in the Workplace

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Forget everything you’ve heard about beauty being only skin deep. Two recent Newsweek polls reveal that beauty may be pocket and career deep as well. Both surveys suggest dressing to impress today simply isn’t enough. Many managers evaluate the physical attractiveness of job candidates too.

The surveys reveal the following 8 ugly truths about beauty in the workplace:

1.  Looks Matter at Work

Fifty-seven percent of the managers polled feel an unattractive (but qualified) applicant will experience more difficulty getting hired.  Sixty-eight percent believe that once hired, looks continue to affect how managers evaluate an employee’s job performance.

2.  Aesthetics Trump Education

When asked to rate nine character attributes, looks rated third below experience and confidence, but above where a candidate went to school and a sense of humor. With that said, it’s probably a good ideal to leave for last, or not include at all, that line in your Facebook bio about having a great sense of humor.

3.  Resume Surgery or Cosmetic Surgery?

Fifty-nine percent of hiring managers recommend investing as much time and money doctoring your looks as you do doctoring your resume.

4.  Caution Women – Being too Hot can Leave you Cold

Don’t believe that? Ask Debrahlee Lorenzana, the Queens woman who filed suit last month against Citibank, alleging the corporation fired her because she was “too hot.” Regardless of the veracity of the allegations, many professional women know all too well the importance of mastering the ability of looking attractive without being attracting. Sixty-one percent of the hiring managers Newsweek surveyed – 60 percent of whom were men – responded they feel it is beneficial for a woman to display her figure at work.  Meanwhile, 47 percent of those same managers said they feel some women are at a disadvantage for being too attractive in the office. A winning case of “Damn if you do; damn if you don’t.”

5.  Fat or Skinny, We Hate Hiring Fat People

Sure 75 percent of the American population is overweight – according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control – but that doesn’t stop us from discriminating against overweight people at work and in life. Newsweek reports “[2/3] of business managers said they believe some managers would hesitate before hiring a qualified job candidate who was significantly overweight”.

6.  We Don’t Like Old People Either

Eighty-four percent of managers believe some bosses avoid hiring a qualified job applicant who looked much older than his or her cohorts.

7.  In Certain Situations, ‘Lookism’ is OK

Sixty-four percent of hiring managers said they believe when a job calls for an employee to be the “face” of a company, hiring people based on looks is acceptable. But there was an inconsistency here. 60 percent of those same respondents said they would favor a law making it illegal to discriminate in hiring based on looks. When researched further, 46 percent of the public said they would favor a law making hiring discrimination based on appearance illegal.

8.  Don’t Say FML Yet – Confidence is Imperative, Too!

You will recall that both confidence and experience ranked first and second on the list of the most important employee attributes. That said, lots of opportunities exists for the regular folks.

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Posted in Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal | 2 Comments »

Video – The Confession of an Image Consultant

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

We live with ourselves from start to finish; yet, because of our limited ability to view ourselves with an objective eye, many of us have no idea how we truly show up to the world. It is no wonder that when the opportunity occasionally arises with the help of video recorders  to “roll back the tape”,  the person we see is nothing like we envisioned. My “aha” moment happened last week after taping my first video blog. The first three or four times I looked at the video, I did so in complete amazement. I couldn’t believe that I was that person showing up on the screen. My knowledge came across, at times, as questionable and even laughable based on my body language and inability to clearly convey thoughts surrounding my so-called area of expertise. Real talk: If I were meeting me for the first time (and in a way I was through the video), my first impression would have been less than favorable.

Since that first vlog viewing, I’ve watched the video probably twenty times or more. I will tell you that as I became more accustomed to the that person on the screen, it became much easier to watch and digest. However, in the real world, we know that “you only get one chance to make a great first impression.” So, the audience I managed to garner for my first vlog may require an enormous amount of massaging and cajoling to return to view others.

“So, why on Earth” you ask, “did you decided to publish this vlog?” Easy, it’s called making lemonade from lemons. Listen, if people packaging is what I do, then I need to make sure my package is tight and this piece allows me to look (reluctantly), learn and grow. But in addition, showing you that there is always room for growth, even for the “experts,” and allowing you to witness my own personal growth, is more effective than a million flowery words.

You can expect to see vast improvements in the upcoming future.  Here’s a look at my horrifying first vlog.

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Posted in Corporate, Personal | 1 Comment »

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