The single most important item in any man’s professional wardrobe is their shoes. They are what people notice first and can make or break one’s image. Therefore, it would be wise to invest in good quality shoes and to protect that investment with proper care.

First up, quality shoes are constructed with a fine grade of leather and typically range in price from $150 to $500. Such brands as Cole-Haan, Johnson & Murphy and Allen Edmonds provide high quality classic styles that will last for years, if cared for properly.

There are five basic steps to proper shoe care:
Step one, insert cedar shoe trees into the shoes after each wear to absorb any moisture, neutralize any odors and to maintain the shoe’s shape by stretching the leather. Step two, utilize a natural bristle brush to brush the shoe leather. Be sure to brush with the grain of the leather to remove any surface dirt and grime. Step three, apply a high quality shoe polish on to the shoes with a cotton cloth and allow it to dry. Step four, once the polish has dried, buff the shoes with another cotton cloth in a circular motion until the desired shine is achieved. Step five, store the shoes in a clean, dry place and wait at least 24 hours before wearing them again. In this way, the shoes will breathe and repair before their next use.

Before wearing shoes during inclement weather, it is wise to cover them with rubber totes to insure that they are protected from the elements and to protect one’s investment. In this way, one will ensure that they are “stepping out in style” with a professional image for years to come!

Some men command attention when they walk into a room. Some men are “babe magnets” while others repel women. Some men earn more money or obtain more opportunities than others even though they are less intelligent. Why is this true? The answer has to do with one’s presence or aura. While it is true that we are all born with certain physical characteristics that are dictated by our genetic compositions, we can learn to develop and maximize our physical and mental potentials.

Beauty is only skin deep when it comes to one’s professional presence. What attracts others to us physically has a great deal to do with what is occurring within us mentally. Our thoughts (that we focus our attention or meditate upon) affect our feelings which in turn affect our actions. Our actions cause a reaction among others within our environments which impact our results in life. For instance, if our thought life is negative and those types of thoughts dominate our mind, our feelings and emotions will likely be consistently sad, angry, depressed, anxious, worried, frustrated, etc. As a result, we will “act out” such feelings and therefore attract negative outcomes into our life. On the contrary, if our thought life is positive, our feelings and emotions will be consistent with that. In turn, our actions will be positive in nature. People, events and circumstances will react accordingly.

While our thoughts have a great deal to do with the outcomes in our life, it is important to give attention to how we “package” ourselves in terms of attire, grooming, etiquette and speech. If we have the best of intentions and maintain a positive thought life we will attract similar outcomes into our life. However, just like a well-written book needs an attractive cover and an attention-getting title to successfully market it to the masses to become a best-seller, so too, we must position our image or brand accordingly to get the results we want in life. This may require beginning a health/fitness program, revamping our wardrobe, getting a new hairstyle and/or paying more attention to our grooming as well as being mindful of our speech and behavior around others.

Begin to become more cognizant of what thoughts dominate your life and make the appropriate changes as necessary. Invest in yourself by developing your physical potential as well. If you are unhappy with the outcomes in your life (in terms of income, relationships and experiences), make a change today; your personal and professional success depend upon it. The professional presence that you desire is only a choice away.

Success, as defined by Webster, is the obtaining of a worthwhile goal. A person’s own definition of success is relative; therefore, the definitions of success are many and varied. While that statement is true, another truth remains constant–success is a choice.
During my school and college years, I learned what it takes to succeed. While I have not always earned the grades that I set out to in school, I did achieve several awards and graduated with cum laude honors from The University of Toledo. This accomplishment was significant in that I became the first in my family to graduate from college and a first generation college graduate. This achievement empowered me to pursue a career in higher education. Initially, I taught sociology and then later developmental English. Within the developmental English coursework that I taught, I found my favorite course to teach– “Study Skills”. This course was recommended to underprepared students at the college. As the instructor, it was my job to teach students how to succeed.

Since then, I have had the privilege of witnessing the transformation that students undergo to achieve academic and career success. This experience caused me to realize my true passion in life—inspiring people to achieve excellence in their personal and professional lives and in turn achieve the level of success that they desire.

Although there are many strategies for success, achieving success can be encapsulated into a basic “success formula”. This formula basically begins with our thoughts. One must monitor their thinking and strive to maintain a positive thought life. What one chooses to think about will affect how that person feels and therefore what they believe to be true about themselves, others and the world in which they live. Once a belief is internalized, the person will speak and/or act accordingly. As a result, the person becomes or experiences the consequences of those original thoughts. This reality will then influence one’s future thoughts which causes the process to continue and become self-fulfilling.

Begin monitoring your thought life. Choose to think on what is true, honest, lovely, just and pure as well as all that is good of yourself, others and the world in which you live. If you do this consistently on a daily basis, your life and your experiences will become more positive. Success is a choice. Choose it today!

The MBTI personality assessment is a valuable tool that will identify which of the sixteen personalities you possess. The Indicator, is a valid and reliable instrument that has been used by Fortune 500 corporations for decades to match individuals with positions within an organizational framework. It is true that when your occupation or career is compatible with your personality style or preference you are more productive and fulfilled.

The actual assessment takes about thirty minutes to complete and the interpretation takes approximately another sixty minutes. You are given a booklet that describes all of the sixteen different personality types for your reference. During the interpretation, you are given valuable information and insight into your own unique personality as well as a list of careers that would be compatible with it. That said, the time and money spent on it are well worth the investment. It takes the guess work out of career planning and the information can be used for many purposes including: selecting a mate, getting along with co-workers, understanding your friends, supervising people and various others.

Male models on the cover of GQ, Esquire and Men’s Health magazines have clean and healthy looking skin. Well, of course, some of it is the result of great photography and make-up artistry. However, most of these men (and I know because I was an aspiring model/actor myself) adhere to a daily regimen of proper rest, exercise, a healthy diet, drink lots of purified water and practice good skin care habits.

That said, good skin care begins with cleansing your skin every morning and evening. Depending upon your skin type (dry, combination or oily), you will need to select the appropriate cleanser. When searching for a good product, you may become overwhelmed by the myriad number choices and prices. After sampling many products over the years, I have found that you can save time, money and skin reactions (trust me, I have had more than a few!) by beginning with Neutrogena products at your local Wal-Mart or Meijers store. These products (cleanser, toner and moisturizer) are reasonably priced, hypoallergenic, non-clogging, alcohol and fragrance-free, as well as include sunscreen protection.

When cleansing your skin, always remember to use tepid or lukewarm water (to avoid drying it out) and wash it after (rather than before) showering and shampooing your hair. In this way, you will avoid getting shampoo residue on your face (which can irritate it and/or cause breakouts) and the warm water from showering helps prepare your skin for shaving (which should, of course, be done after cleansing your skin).

After cleansing your skin, apply a light amount of toner (with a cotton ball) to your skin’s oily areas and/or “trouble spots”.

Once toning is completed, apply a quarter coin sized amount of moisturizer to your face and neck. Do not overlook the ears and always apply it under your eyes, which has the finest layer of skin and will age more quickly than in other areas.

After incorporating this regimen into your daily routine, you will begin to reap the benefits of cleaner, healthier and younger looking skin!

The tried and true navy blue suit is the best attire to wear for a job interview. The suit should be made of 100% worsted wool fabric. It should also be either a two or three buttoned single breasted style with notched lapels. The suit should be paired with a quality white dress shirt (with a collar style to compliment your facial shape) and have barrel cuffs. The tie should be conservative with red, white and blue colors incorporated into the design; keep in mind, the pattern should have either small repeating patterns or smaller diagonal stripes (rep style). Moreover, remember to wear the best quality of black leather dress shoes that you can afford (valued at $100 or more) with a black belt that matches the shoe’s leather grain. For an extra special touch of class, prepare and insert a white pocket square (made of pure linen, silk or high quality cotton) into the breast pocket. Once you have accomplished this ensemble, prepare to interview with confidence!