Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #145

Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #145 (Video here:https://bit.ly/3DfjCfY).

In business today, people judge us immediately based on how we are dressed, before we even get to say one word. Unfair? Totally! I run my own soft skills corporate training business here in Japan. Now if we can positively influence that initial judgement of us, shouldn't we make an effort to control it? Every day I carefully choose my clothes to determine that critical first impression people will have of me, based on who my schedule says I will encounter that day. What do you do?

Know The Rule To Break The Rule: Classic Men's Wear Conventions

21. Hang up your jacket when you get home to let it breathe and get the wrinkles out.  If you have a problem with wrinkles, then buy a home steam kit to apply to the problem area.

This day I had a morning meeting with the crew from Kenja, who are helping us to build our curated Carnegie Academy AI Edition offering for our class participants.

I had lunch at the Tokyo American Club in Azabudai looking to run into clients and I did!. The rest of the day I was working from home.

I always want to look sharp and even though I didn't have a heavy duty day, I still think about how I look on that vital first impression. I chose my dark grey, single breasted Ermenegildo Zegna suit, with Barchetta breast pocket, double pleats, 35 mm double cuffs, flap pockets, notch lapels and I wore over the calf grey socks.

The shirt was custom, had a faint red stripe and French Cuffs, the fabric from Chester Barrie Saville Row, red striped cufflinks to match in with the shirt. The collar stays were horn from Kirby Allison. The burgundy tie was handmade Italian Shantung silk with broad white stripes from Rampley & Co. London, tied in a Four-In-Hand knot.

Both the shirt and the tie had stripes - is that allowed? Remember, it works, as long as we keep the width of the stripes quite separate. If the tie had a very narrow stripe against the narrow stripe of the tie, then there would be visual chaos.

The pocket square was a gift from my tailor and has a red tartan pattern. I was always wondering what on earth I could match a tartan pattern with? I tried this burgundy tie in a reverse puff using my Kuska Fabric stabilser, and it was sort of okay.

The silver corporate badge from Dale Carnegie, the pen was my black and gold Mont Blanc, the business card holder from Lanvin. The watch was unusual. It was my gold Sumo Yokozuna Grand Champion Takanohana Supporters 21st Victory Commemorative 32 mm Sun and Moon Red Fuji design by Yamazaki Haruhiko.

He was a famous Japanese artist known for his Red Fuji paintings and who used the same design for Takanohana's formal ring apron. I was given this watch as I was one of the supporters of Takanohana, when he was competing, when I was a diplomat in Osaka as Consul General for Australia. The strap was black caiman alligator.

The high shine shoes were TLB Majorca burgundy Adelaide Oxfords Artista series with a Picasso last and punched toe cap French calf from the D'Annonay tannery, tied in a Parisian knot.

The shot was taken at the Tokyo American Club in the Wintergarden with the fire in the background. The reason I am laughing is because Joyce, a manager at the New York Bar & Grill who kindly took the photo for me, unbenownst to her, was being given the rabbit ears treatment by one of the other members behind her, but in full view for me. It was so ridiculous, it made me laugh.

If you want to accelerate your proficiency in Leadership, Communication, Sales, Presentations, DEI, or want high level Executive Coaching, there is only one place operating at the highest level: Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training.  Click here (https://bit.ly/3Tn4Sjh) to LEARN MORE

Contact me at greg.story@dalecarnegie.com

Head over to www.dale-carnegie.co.jp and check out our Japanese and English seminars, workshops, course information and schedules and our whitepapers, guidebooks, training videos, podcasts, blogs.

About The Author

Dr. Greg Story, President Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training

The bestselling author of “Japan Sales Mastery” (the Japanese translation is "The Eigyo" (The営業), “Japan Business Mastery” and "Japan Presentations Mastery" and his new books "How To Stop Wasting Money On Training" and the translation "Toreningu De Okane Wo Muda Ni Suru No Wa Yamemashoo" (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのは止めま and Japan Leadership Mastery (under translation).

Dr. Greg Story is an international keynote speaker, an executive coach, and a thought leader in the four critical areas for business people: leadership, communication, sales and presentations. He leads the Dale Carnegie Franchise in Tokyo which traces its roots straight back to the very establishment of Dale Carnegie in Japan in 1963 by Mr. Frank Mochizuki.

He publishes daily blogs on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter

Has 6 weekly podcasts:

1.     Mondays -  The Leadership Japan Series,

2.    Tuesdays – The Presentations Japan Series

Every second Tuesday - ビジネス達人の教え

3.    Wednesdays - The Sales Japan Series

4.    Thursdays – The Leadership Japan Series

Also every second Thursday - ビジネスプロポッドキャスト

5.    Fridays - The Japan Business Mastery Show

6.    Saturdays – Japan’s Top Business Interviews

Has 3 weekly TV shows on YouTube:

1.     Mondays - The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show

Also every Second Thursday - ビジネスプロTV

2.    Fridays – Japan Business Mastery

3.    Saturdays – Japan Top Business Interviews

In the course of his career Dr. Greg Story has moved from the academic world, to consulting, investments, trade representation, international diplomacy, retail banking and people development.

Growing up in Brisbane, Australia he never imagined he would have a Ph.D. in Japanese decision-making, become a 39 year veteran of Japan and run his own company in Tokyo.

Since 1971, he has been a disciple of traditional Shitoryu Karate (糸東流) and is currently a 6th Dan.

Bunbu Ryodo (文武両道-both pen & sword) is his mantra and he applies martial art philosophies and strategies to business.