Archives for July 2018

Q: My job requires me to travel my Ohio territory three to five days a week. My challenge is not looking like I travel that much when I arrive to a client’s business. How can I keep a fresh appearance after driving many hours? — JT of Akron

A: Thanks for reaching out, JT. I have been asked about this situation over the years and appreciate being able to share some tricks and tips.

As with anything important in our lives, preparation is more than half the battle. Getting the right tools for the job will make your travels more enjoyable, which makes you more productive.

The car must be set up to support you on your travels. Using the passenger seat is the key when traveling alone for long trips. You should be able to keep your eyes on the road while reaching for cool water to stay hydrated so you can keep a fresh face for business. Coffee is fine — a little bit — but it can dehydrate you quickly, and if spilled will cause nasty stains.

Have a command center for communicating and keeping ahead of traffic situations that could delay you. Also have the client on speed dial before you begin your journey; if you are running a few minutes late you can call them, which shows you respect their time.

Obviously keeping your phone charged is important so you are never out of communication, in case the person you are meeting needs to contact you.

Once you have those tools we turn our attention to keeping your wardrobe looking fresh. The ideal scenario would be to travel in casual clothes and change before arriving at the client’s office. I highly recommend hanging your outfits on a clothes bar in your car. You can also get a special coat hanger that attaches to the back of your seat so you can slip on your suit or sport coat when you arrive, keeping it fresh and wrinkle free.

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.

Like it or not, you’re branded the minute you walk through the door.

Would you show up wearing an evening gown to an office meeting on Monday morning? Obviously not! Some of the outfits that people are wearing scream inappropriate, yet they wear them anyway.

When a person you know comes to a meeting looking disheveled, perhaps looking hung over from a long Super Bowl weekend, what would you consider discussing with them about work? Would you launch into a detailed game plan for landing a huge client? Probably not, as you assume they won’t be on top of their game that day and wouldn’t probably have creative out-of-the-box ideas to share. So you look for someone that looks polished, pulled together, and prepared to work.

What about another woman in the office that arrives revealing her “ample assets?” Do you invite her to sit in on an important meeting with a client to discuss the upcoming fiscal quarter?

How about the twenty-something that is more fashionista than career-focused and seems to change her personality monthly as she chases the “next hot trend.” And then she complains that she isn’t being taken seriously and has been passed over for opportunities within the company.

Instead may I suggest it’s easier to move along in your career, save money, earn more respect, and enjoy yourself all while simplifying your life — just by developing your Signature Style Recipe. Of course, this recipe will evolve as you mature and your body shifts and changes over time, as it should.

It doesn’t matter where you are right now today. You may be struggling with weight change, an unsatisfactory wardrobe that doesn’t bring you joy, an image that is close to where you want to be, but not exactly. You may have experienced a recent ending of a relationship and are now ready to open your life to someone new, but you’re just not sure of yourself or how to get back on the dating scene. A consultation will change your life and your perspective.

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” — Wayne W. Dyer

ABOUT TRACI MCBRIDE: TRACI IS THE WARDROBE STYLIST AT TEEMCBEE IMAGE CONSULTING. SUBSCRIBE TO HER NEWSLETTER, SCHEDULE A STYLE STRATEGY CALL, OR REQUEST TEE SPEAKS TO INFUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH PASSION AND STYLE.