All politics aside, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, showed her command presence in the way she handled the four plus hours of grilling by the Senate. (We all understand the gravity of that situation.)

The piece that impressed me and many others (listening to the commentaries) is the discussion around what we were going to do to make sure this does not happen again. A true leader handles him/herself with composure always going back to seeking a solution to fix the problem.

What if the most respected global companies only finger pointed and didn’t focus on the solution? Nothing would get resolved.

The first lady, Michelle Obama, wore purple gloves instead of the traditional black ones in the Inaugural parade. Why did the purple work? First, it was a quiet touch while being just enough to notice and for folks to spot her as she waved to them. It was also in the same color family and tone of the navy blue coat.

Purple ended up being perfect as an accent color and worked well for the gloves. They definitively replaced the black and were elegant at the same time. Would it have been the same had she worn purple pumps or boots? No.

These are words that are useless but commonly used. You can identify a filler word if it’s heard but rarely seen written out. These words include um, ah, er, ok, etc., and they dilute the impact of your point.

Being aware of using these words is the first step to eliminating them. Start with counting how many you use in a day and begin to reduce them. Speaking slower while allowing your thoughts to catch up will decrease the use of these words. So will taking the time to pause and take a breath.

The most fascinating things about the awards shows (The Golden Globes were on just the other night) besides the clothes and glamour are the acceptance speeches. Viewers tend to hear the good, bad and the ugly which is why the speeches are instructive to listen to.

Hearing them can provide guidelines on how to give a good acceptance speech.

Here is what I have learned:

• Accept graciously instead of saying I can’t believe it

• Thank those who helped you

• Tell a succinct story that will motivate others

• Smile and enjoy the moment

Remember these critical elements and any acceptance speech you give will be joy to hear.

Emerald is “a lively, radiant, lush, vivid, verdant green” which “enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony” as quoted by Pantone.

Green also represents money and nature. Think of adding this color with an accessory, like a tie, pin or scarf. Recently, green nail polish has replaced the tangerine one. Use the color sparingly, though. (You can always wait until St. Patrick’s Day!)

In a recent Oprah magazine article, red lipstick was touted as the new lipstick color. For example, Taylor Swift only wears red lipstick with a touch of blush on her cheeks. This accentuates her eyes and has become her signature look.

My recommendation is to use the red lipstick for night wear only. Use a more natural color for the day time. Definitely experiment with it by having a professional help you in choosing the right red. It should make you feel a bit glamorous as opposed to clownish.

The long sleeve collared shirt has become more of a statement today than when it was first introduced to wear under a jacket. Because business casual is trending into a more polished look, the shirt has become a stand-alone piece. So, it is important when choosing the right size, that the shoulder, chest and waist material gently hug the body.

Following are the typical size categories:

Full fit: Very generous in the chest and hip area

Slim fit: More form fitting in the chest and hip area

Athletic: Generous in the shoulders and slim in the body

Classic: Closer to the body

Husky: Full in shoulder and body

The sleeve and shirt length can always be altered. The shoulder and body gets tricky because the alterations can easily get out of balance. If that happens, the shirt will end up fitting poorly.

Karen May, Vice President for People Development at Google, was quoted in the NY Times Sunday, December 30th, Openers. She said that earlier in her career, she learned to realize “that one of the most valuable things I could for somebody is to tell them exactly what nobody else had told them before.”

Giving feedback has to motivate someone to do better while not tearing them down. I recommend using the three to one rule:

1. Let them know three things they do well.

2. Suggest one thing they may need to look at.

3. Tell them why this is something they need to examine.

This reality check can be a turning point so it is a gift when you can do it for someone in an appropriate manner.

I always find it exhilirating that we can enter another year and just start anew. It is a great opportunity to begin a fresh chapter in your life.

So, ask yourself, what is one goal you have had for the last two years that you have met and one goal you have not. Looking at the one goal that was accomplished, review the steps you took. Take those steps to apply it to the one goal you did not achieve. But first ask if the goal is realistic and reasonable. If it is then why not make it the goal to achieve for 2013?

Better yet, take it one step further and get another opinion or even a coach who can help you reach perspective on it.

One of my goals for the last 4 years was to get a personal trainer who will motivate me to exercise and enjoy it. I am on my fourth session and starting to do exercises on my own. I’m even beginning to be excited about it.

Pick a goal you can work on and achieve in the next year.

Have a prosperous and happy 2013!

These are the five critical questions that need to be answered to guarantee you will be a front runner for the position you are interviewing for:

1. What skills do you bring to the position that no one else possesses?

2. What is your expertise and is there a proven record of successful accomplishments?

3. What does the position need?

4. What critical element is required and do you meet that requirement?

5. How can you turn any resume gap into a positive?

Being able to provide answers to these questions will ensure that you will be a front runner for any position you interview for.