In a town like Washington DC, it isn’t a surprise when you remark at a party or other event that your significant other is on the road, again. No, we’re not singing a Willie Nelson song, we’re talking about traveling and the fact that those in the business of politics are on the road a lot – perhaps as often as some well-seasoned salespeople. So if some of the most powerful people in the US are constantly on the road selling their wares (however we define what they’re selling), is it possible that road warriors have some skills that makes them better leaders?

If you think about the skills you need to travel well, it seems that most are transferable to the business and political sectors. ‘Travel well’ in this context does not mean 5-star hotels and first-class airplane tickets. Travel well means arriving at your chosen destination having spent the least amount of time, money, and effort. Aren’t those admirable goals for any leader – to be more efficient, achieve something using fewer resources, and get the job done? Hmmm, we think we’re on to something here. So what do road warriors and successful leaders have in common? Let’s review:

• Optimize time: There’s a lot of downtime when you travel and savvy travelers know how to work to fill this wasted time. You may not have access to the Internet, but that shouldn’t stop you from writing responses to emails, making telephone calls, and reading reports. Road warriors make sure their mobile device is loaded with work before leaving on a trip. Instead of visiting the Cinnabon stand at the airport or watching a sappy movie during a flight, use your travel time to get things done. What do you think the press corp is doing on Airforce One? They are not playing angry birds on their iPhones!
• Save money: All good travelers have tricks to save money when on the road. One of the most used is the frequent travel/loyalty programs offered by virtually every travel service vendor. A 20% discount on a rental car, an upgrade to a hotel room with free wifi and breakfast, and access to an airline’s business club in a crowded and busy airport are all benefits from loyalty programs that can be used by a traveler to save money and be more efficient. Aren’t these the same types of savings techniques you’d like to see from your leader? Finding and using every advantage to save resources makes good sense in both travel and business.
• Minimize effort: Sure you could save $500 on your next plane ticket if you’re willing to have 3 layovers and take triple the length of time to get to your destination. But, the real question is does that savings equal the effort? A great leader understands that over-taxing some resources (time and effort in this case) in order to eke out savings of another (money) is not always the wisest decision. If you’re physically and mentally exhausted when you arrive at your destination, were the few bucks you saved worth the effort? That’s an important decision you must make, and like a good leader, your choice will say much about your ability to prioritize and make good decisions.

It’s the way of thinking, of how to manage time, effort and resources that make a great leader great. Savvy travelers have this skill set and as anyone who has ever travelled with children know that it’s both an art and a science. If you really want to judge how effective a leader is (or will be in the case of our political leaders), try to determine if they travel well because if so, then you may have found a great leader!

1. Touch screen gloves so he can use his iPad, iPhone or other touch devices without removing his gloves
2. A stylus that looks like a pen but is designed to prevent scratching the touch screens
3. A hand-held phone attachment so he can talk on his cell like he used to talk on a landline phone
4. An iPhone cover that doubles as a credit card or business card holder so he has everything at his fingertips
5. Get him out of that grungy baseball cap and into a more stylish version
6. Some nice golf wear for when he hits the links with his boss or clients
7. A bespoke suit at half the price of most and the measurements are taken in the privacy of his home or office
8. A simple and classic leather wallet to replace the beat-up one he has carried for years
9. A cashmere or other fine gauge knit sweater in a neutral color that he can wear all winter long
10. A toiletries kit for travel because he probably needs a new one and won’t buy it for himself

And if you need some more ideas, check out our blog articles on skin care and men’s wardrobe essentials. You can help your special man be a better version of himself in 2012 with these presence image enhancing tips!

One of the most important assets you have is your image. It only takes a few minutes for a person to form a first impression and an equal amount of time to form a bad impression. While the image that you project may still be unrefined, you must learn to manage it well at all times and in every type of situation whether online or person to person.

Every time you tweet a message on Twitter, or post a picture on Facebook, or check-in at your favorite restaurant using FourSquare, all of that information is stored on servers somewhere, and will likely be seen by more people than you ever imagined for a longer period of time than you ever wanted. These little snippets of information about you are what ultimately shape and form your online image so you need to learn to manage them.

Here are a few tips to get you started. They may seem obvious to you at first, but once you think about them I bet you’ve slipped up a time or two.

1. Don’t post bikini pictures or political manifestos. No matter how good you think you look, or how smart you think you are, these types of communications are better kept to yourself or only shared with those closest to you. Before you post any picture (of yourself or someone else) always ask, “Do I really want everyone to see this?” If you hesitate for even one second then don’t do it. Always assume that there will be someone who will copy or screenshot that picture or document. You will never again have absolute control once it is posted on the Internet. People will draw their own conclusions from the postings because there’s often no context, and you’re not available to explain the circumstances.
2. Don’t use check-in technology no matter how tempted you are to become the mayor of your favorite Starbucks or to make your friends jealous by spending a long weekend at the Ritz-Carlton. By allowing the masses, in some cases, to know your location at various times (and it’s likely you are a repeat visitor to many places) you are giving away information about your likes and preferences that you would normally reserve for people you actually know. Ask yourself, “Do I really want people to know that I check-in at the local pub at least once a week but haven’t checked in at a library for more than a year?” Think about what every piece of information you post do to further shape and refine your image before you share it with the world.
3. Don’t “like” pages on Facebook that you would be reluctant to show to or share with your mother or boss. The same is true for Twitter. Don’t “follow” anyone you are ashamed to have an interest in. There are all sorts of triggers built into Facebook and Twitter to share your interests with others. If you “follow” a divorce attorney on Twitter then be prepared for a telephone call from your mother-in-law asking about the state of your marriage despite the fact that the attorney is your good friend from college. You don’t know what people will think of you based on your ‘likes’ or ‘follows’ so be careful of what you do so that you protect your online image.
4. Don’t allow videos of you making rude gestures, cussing and swearing, or doing something stupid or violent. Now that Google search results include all of the popular social media websites, you can be sure that your current or future boss, spouse, or child will someday see that video of you at your worst. These things will always come back to haunt (and mortify) you.
5. Don’t use any type of wacky picture or image for your online profiles. No one wants to see your face squished in the middle like a reflection in a funhouse mirror. You don’t need to advertise that your alter ego is SpongeBob Square-Pants no matter how much you like the gang at the Krusty Krab. You don’t want to be known as the attorney with a penchant for dressing up as a clown and posting the pictures on your Facebook page. Sure, it may be cute and fun, but remember that what you think is funny to your friends may be viewed far differently by your clients and co-workers.

The most important message to take away from this is to always treat the Internet and the social networks you frequent as your calling card. These are bits and pieces of the real you, but without context. That’s why you need to actively manage your online image in order to control the messages you’re conveying to both friends and strangers. The line between what’s public and what’s private is now very fluid and at times nonexistent. It’s upon you to monitor and manage your online image if you intend to live and work successfully in the 21st century.

• Try to discover who will be at the holiday party that you wish to connect with and learn something about that person. This will require some research time, and clearly social media networks (Facebook, Twitter) are the places to start. You’re not creating a dossier but you do want to have a working knowledge of your potential networking targets.
• Prepare some interesting talking points before you attend the event. I’m not suggesting index cards in your pocket but you should think of timely topics to introduce during “cocktail chatter”. Stay away from religion and politics, of course (unless you’re at a church event or political fundraiser) but be prepared with a few relevant comments about a new book you’re reading, a trip you recently took, or a deal you closed this year. Relevant to the conversation is of utmost importance but interesting is crucial as well.
• Don’t drink or eat too much no matter how nervous you may feel. You do want to relax but you don’t want to be sloppy. No one wants to hear your slurred words from too many spiked egg nogs or smell your garlic shrimp breath wafting across their face. Save your crazy party antics for home and friends, and remember that when you’re networking it’s as much business as it is fun. You’re trying to achieve something useful and you won’t if you have the lampshade on your head.
• Always remember that it’s a party. Yes, I just cautioned you to not be too merry but you must be merry enough to honor the event. The purpose of networking is not to close the deal but to segue to another meeting. If at any time you sense that you’ve crossed that line to the hard sell, then you owe it to your hosts to step back and resume your cocktail chatter. It’s a balance that you’ll learn to achieve so get to practicing it now!

Networking is perhaps the one skill I’m asked about most when I’m hired to help develop and refine a person’s presence image. Yes, networking is a skill (although some of us are naturally better at it than others), and it must be both learned and practiced. Take the networking opportunities you’ll have this holiday season to improve your life in 2012!

It may be obvious to point out, but skin care is an important topic for men especially now that we have had an early taste of winter weather. The first thing anyone sees when looking at you is your skin and more precisely your face. Good skin is essential when you want to make a good impression because in order to feel good you must look good and your facial skin plays a major role.

One way to always put your best face forward is with an effective skin care regimen. Skin care is no longer for women only. A well-groomed, professional man today will take care of both his mind and body, and his skin will get the kind treatment it deserves. If good personal care habits didn’t make a difference in a person’s life, then the big business of skin care wouldn’t be a multi-billion dollar industry. According to Skin, Inc. Magazine:

“Skin care remains the most important category in the global beauty and personal care market, accounting for a 23% share of total value sales in 2010. It is set to be by far the fastest-growing and largest beauty category, exceeding $100 billion by 2015.”

Reportedly, anti-aging products continue to drive the sector’s growth. While the US market will perform respectably, the real growth is projected for the Asian markets. Even with a global recession, skin care is a thriving business, and men are joining women in the quest to look their best and using products to do it.

So even if you still believe that a good skin care regimen is more trouble than it’s worth, I’m going to help you get into a routine that will be easy and effective. Just think about it, the facial skin of most men takes a daily beating from scrapping it with a sharp razor to washing it with whatever bar of soap is in the shower. Shouldn’t that type of rough treatment warrant a little bit of pampering? It’s time for men to start taking care of this important tool in their “making a good impression” toolbox. So here are the basics of a skin care routine that you can start today:

First, buy your own products: Men’s skin is naturally thicker and oiler than women’s skin. So you may see little benefit from using the skin care products you find in your wife or girlfriend’s bathroom cabinet. Trust that you will have no lack of products to choose from – from Target to Barney’s there will be products to buy at every price point. Buy a cleanser and a moisturizer at the very least. If you can stand it, add a skin toner but only if you’ll use it. Do a little research before you buy to narrow down the product lines you’re most interested in an then buy a few. It’s ok to test a few products before you settle on your favorites.

Second, keep your routine limited to a few steps: I don’t think any man would argue with me when I say that a skin care routine that is more than 3 steps is pushing most men’s endurance and tolerance. You don’t need to undertake an elaborate morning and evening skin care routine. The important things are to cleanse and moisturize your face every day. Figure out a routine that accomplishes these two things without making yourself crazy.

Third, just do it: As you brush your teeth or shave in the morning, add a simple skin care regimen to your day. Sure, it may add five minutes (or less) to your morning grooming time, but in exchange you will notice improvements in the texture and appearance of your skin within a month or two. Depending on the products you use, your face should show fewer lines, smaller pores, and a more even texture. If you apply the same discipline to your skin care that you do to other personal grooming, you won’t be disappointed when you look at your reflection in the mirror.

Good skin like well-tailored clothes, neatly trimmed hair, and a pleasant demeanor are all essential traits of a professional man with a well-refined presence image. If you want to make a good impression when you step out of the house, take good care of your skin so that you always put your best face forward.

What your body is really reacting to is the adrenaline pumping through it. It’s the biological impulse to flee from your fear just as early man had to flee from charging wooly mammoths. While it is common to experience such an adrenaline rush because you fear public speaking, you can learn how to control it. You will never realize your full potential in your career or your life if you cannot address a group of people (from 2 to 2,000 people, it doesn’t matter how large or small the group).Here are some quick tips to help you control your glossophobia.

• Be well-prepared but don’t overdo it – you don’t need 20 pages of notes, but do be sure you have the correct number of audience handouts available to distribute
• Practice your speech in front of a mirror – this will force you to remember to look at the audience when speaking because you will naturally look up at your reflection in the mirror
• Pay attention to your grooming – get a haircut the week before, wear a nice outfit that’s clean, stylish and fits well. Don’t make a statement with your clothes, jewelry, makeup, hair or overall grooming. You’re there to speak not pose for photographs.
• Know your audience and talk with them – a good public speaker engages the audience as one would in a good conversation. Use anecdotes because they help the audience to relate to you and the story.
• Relax your muscles and take deep belly breaths – always do this while you’re waiting to step up to the podium or on stage. I guarantee you will feel better with a little pre-speech meditation.

And finally you can try to tell a joke but only if you’ve rehearsed one enough to properly deliver it. Here’s an easy yet effective one I’ve heard quite a few times over the years.

What lies in a quivering heap on the bottom of the ocean?

–A nervous wreck!

Believe me, there will be many audience members laughing because they know they’d feel the same way if they were in your place.

As this world continues to get increasingly competitive so must you continue to sharpen your skills to stay in and preferably on top of the game. It’s ok to have glossophobia but you must learn how to control it. Every successful person knows how to excel at public speaking, and you need to, too.

I don’t think anyone in the Kardashian circle predicted the backlash against Kim that quickly gained momentum after the divorce announcement on Halloween. What really got the fans and critics so riled up? It seems there were several hot topics in the raging debates:

• the brevity of the marriage – measured in days and not weeks, months or years – and the fact that the newlyweds spent that entire time filming a reality show;
• the over-the-top opulence of the wedding itself – the jewelry, the gifts, the dresses, the parties, and even the $20,000+ cake;
• the suspect timing of the divorce filing that coincided with the publication of her mother Kris Jenner’s first book, the opening of the first Kardashian Khaos store in Las Vegas, and her brother Rob’s appearance on the television show Dancing With the Stars that has found the Kardashians in the audience and drumming up votes via social media every week to keep him in the competition;
• And last but not least, Kim filed for divorce on the one-year anniversary to the day that she first saw Kris Humphries on a basketball court and asked to be fixed up on a date with him.

That is an awful lot of fuel to feed the firestorm.

While her fans were sold on the fairytale aspect of her whirlwind, true-love romance and marriage, when it so quickly fell apart it seems everyone screamed fake, scam, phony, and branded the marriage a ‘showmance.’ Those millions of Twitter followers, and devotees that bought every perfume, handbag, shoe, book, diet pill, dress, and TV show Kim Kardashian slapped her name on stopped and wondered “what happened to their Kimmie?,” the girl they had watched over the years turn into a wildly successful and beautiful woman on the Keeping Up With The Kardashians TV show.

When you make your millions (or even a more normal-sized paycheck) by selling goods to consumers, it is disastrous to have your loyal fans question your integrity and credibility. If your customers lose their faith in you, that’s a huge problem for any business and Ms. Kardashian is surely a cottage industry unto herself. If consumers stop buying the stuff she’s selling, then there goes the demand for not only the products themselves but also for Kim to appear on magazine covers, television shows, and in the movies (she’s scheduled to be in Tyler Perry’s next film ironically named “Marriage Counselor”).

Kim has a multi-million dollar business to protect and she must take steps now to regain the trust of her fans in order to repair her battered image. Whether it’s reconciling with her estranged husband, attempting marriage or other family counseling, or coming clean in a mea culpa type interview with Barbara Walters or Diane Sawyer, she must do something to restore the faith. If not, this could well spell the end of the Kardashian Empire that raked in a reported $65 million last year alone. It won’t be easy to do, but it may work if she sticks to the truth and forgets the fairytale. The general public really isn’t that stupid and is quickly insulted when they feel duped. Kim needs to learn an important lesson from this personal tragedy or it could well spell her business killer.

So, I ask each of you, where did you go today?

If your answer was ‘I didn’t go anywhere’, or ‘I just went to work’, then I challenge you to add another outing to your day. Unfortunately, I too often hear those answers especially from women who have “empty nest syndrome” because their kids are away at college or live in another city. Remember when you were so busy each day with the kids? Volunteering at the school, getting involved in the community, going to watch soccer and baseball games? Between kids and work you probably felt that you never had a moment alone, and you were likely exhausted most of the time. So while it’s healthy to spend some quiet downtime at home, staying home too often is a trap that you cannot let yourself fall into because that’s not you living a full and meaningful life.

I understand that it may be a challenge at first to learn how to fill your time with meaningful activities, but it’s worth the effort because to stay in the house or to go to work and then return directly home is not living your life to the fullest. This is the time in your life for you to find your passion (if you haven’t already figured that out). Maybe it’s volunteering to help others, or maybe it’s a hobby. Perhaps it’s getting a job if you haven’t worked in some years, or even joining an activity group or taking a class at the local community college. Go to a museum, or out to lunch with friends. Take a walk in the park or join a gym and go swimming. If you’re really stuck for something to do, go to the mall and window shop (as long as you control your impulse to buy!) or watch a movie matinee. Even a trip to the library or the local coffee shop will get you out of the house and mingling with other people.

We are so lucky that each day we have the opportunity to better our lives, but only some of us take advantage of that fact. It’s time to start being a better you and that time starts today. Send me an email and let me know what you did today because I want you to be the best you can be every day and to live a full and meaningful life!

So when you pick up a fashion magazine, receive an apparel catalog in the mail, or head to the mall to shop, how are you making decisions about what to spend your hard-earned money on, and what to forego for now? I have a few hints to help you learn when it’s the right time to splurge and when to budget when it comes to your wardrobe.

When I help people to define and refine their presence image, we do discuss wardrobe and accessories as part of the overall strategy. Let’s be honest, the first impression people get from you is based on how you look. Don’t you make judgments about people based on their appearance? You may be surprised by the wardrobe pieces that you already own that will help you to look great and feel great the next time you go to work, to an event at your child’s school, or even out on a date!

First, shop your closet. Do you know all the little gems you may have hidden in the back of your closet or tucked away on a shelf? Maybe a beautiful scarf you received as a gift a few years ago or a pair of boots you’ve forgotten about. Most people are amazed at what they can rediscover in their own closet before they step out the door to make a new purchase.

Second, honor your budget. Always know how much you really have available to spend on new clothes or accessories. Don’t guess at the amount – know it because you’ve worked on your budget. In lean times, we must be more vigilant with our discretionary spending, and control impulse shopping. Don’t spend more than you can afford – ever!

Third, look for bargains and shop smart. Retailers have become more creative with their sales and discount offerings so you need to take advantage of those opportunities. If you see a designer handbag that’s 75% off and you know you can get years of wear out of it, then go ahead and buy it. The same is true for classic wardrobe staples – a white shirt, a black pair of pants, and a trench-style raincoat. When you vary the accessories, these wardrobe builders will serve you well.

Finally, don’t be a slave to trends. There’s no need to jump on every trend that comes along. Everything can’t be translated to every body type, and not every designer uses the same guidelines. Know your style, and invest more in the environment you spend most of your time. Look at your existing wardrobe and think of what will go with what you already have.

Yes, you need and want to feel good in your clothes and feel confident when you walk into a meeting or other event. You can and you will without damaging your bottom line if you know when to budget and when to splurge on your wardrobe.

1. Blue Blazer – single breasted and that fits well through the shoulders, and pair it with khakis, jeans, or gray pants
2. Crisp White Shirt – no button-down collars allowed and no wrinkles either
3. Khaki Pants – feel comfortable in them but go without pleats and cuffs if you can
4. Black Shoes and Brown Shoes – try to buy a black pair with a trim profile for business and a brown, more rugged-soled pair for khakis and jeans
5. Classic Watch – it doesn’t need to be a Rolex, but should have a low-profile face with a classic black strap band
6. Briefcase – buy a good quality one in a classic style and shape and then keep it for years
7. Cashmere Sweater – choose one in a neutral color and don’t buy a cardigan style
8. The aforementioned Dark Gray Suit – more versatile than a black one
9. Dark Blue Jeans – make sure they fit well (not too tight or too loose) and forego any designer add-ons like waxing, fading, weathering, etc.