At a recent event, you could tell the high level executives from the ones who were not by what they carried. For example, I travelled with a colleague who had a bunch of papers in her hands plus some other items. Was it too much? No, because she was able to carry it in a combination purse/briefcase. I understand the trend is small purses, but if you need to bring documents, a larger one is acceptable.

Then there was another attendee with a heavy backpack (she called it her office). Avoid that. The same for the roller bag. It makes one look like an assistant instead of a professional.

Since we were at a hotel, they could have checked their bags with the bellman and picked them up later. Remember less is more.

Carrying too many bags is too much baggage!

A key component of a true executive and leader is to be able to manage time effectively. Being constantly late and rushed projects a very poor image. It indicates a lack of organizational ability.

Stephen Covey has a program called “Focus” which provides time management skills. One major tip is to plan only 75% of your day. That leaves room for dealing with the unexpected. It is understood that as you gain additional responsibilities and more prestigious titles, that time becomes more important than money.

So, when you complete what you have prioritized for the day, and no emergencies have popped up, refrain from adding more to do’s to your day. Instead, use the extra time for strategic planning.

When you can do this consistently, you will be managing your time effectively.

Civility and being courteous is important in every aspect of our lives. Everyone is diligent most of the time. However, folks sometimes forget politeness when they are waiting in line to check out after grocery store shopping.

Here are some check-out lane do’s and don’ts:

Do:

• Remember patience
• Let someone ahead of you go first if they have one item and you have a week’s worth of groceries
• Ask questions about items prior to queuing up in the check-out lane 
• Have your credit card, check or cash handy

Don’t:

• Interrupt the cashier when they are waiting on someone else
• Check out in the 10 items or less lane when you have 15 in your cart
• Search for the 13 cents at the bottom of your purse
• Use a credit card in the cash only lane

Remember that civility is paramount, especially when you are in a rush to check out.

When you do this, in addition to doing the right thing, you will be a role model for others

Today’s job market can be grim for jobseekers. So when you are fortunate enough to receive an interview, highlight what you have done.

However, what is more important is where you want to go and why. Present a vision. Support it by describing the steps on how to get there, what you bring to it and how you will bring others there.

Passion is critical. Love what you do and use that to create the ladder to your vision.

Clients often ask how to get their body language to be inclusive and engaging without appearing too silly or moving too much.

Too many make the mistake of thinking that body language is just about arm gestures when it is really about the movement of the entire body. It begins with the relaxing of the shoulders, holding good posture and standing erect. And don’t forget your facial expressions.

Remembering these things will help you send a message through your body language which precisely matches the words you are using.

What is it about fit? Most folks appear to be careless about it. So many times in group settings two out of five individuals are wearing clothes that fit while the other three folks are not.

The following is a list of ten fit issues most folks miss:

1. Too tight in the chest area of the jacket or shirt
2. Too big in the chest area of the jacket or shirt
3. Too big in the shoulder area (this adds 10 pounds to a person)
4. Baggy pants for both men and women
5. Length of jackets too long
6. Length of jacket too short
7. Waist of jackets too high
8. Waist of jacket too long
9. Sleeve length
10.Trouser length

Do not purchase any jackets where the chest or shoulders are too big or tight. You might think you can fix them but in many cases, any alterations will cost more than the item. An exception might be if it is a vintage or a keepsake garment.

Alterations are key to wearing a garment that fits well. It is very rare that someone can purchase an item that does not need some type of adjustment.

Depending on the area you live, the alteration can range from $30.00 to $60.00. So, you have to decide how much you want to spend on altering an item before considering  buying a new one.

Following these guidelines before you purchase an item and before you spend money altering it will help ensure you will be among the two out of five whose clothing fits well. Then, you will stand out in an elegant way.

Today, I see many folks coloring their hair to cover up gray. Bobby Brown was recently quoted in an article stating how she must color her hair every other week. Coloring the hair every two weeks is about average for those folks who have been at it for a long time.
 
No matter how often you color your hair, a spot that is sometimes neglected or missed is the hair at the back of the head near the crown. The color tends to fade at that spot or the color is not applied as it could be.
 
Bumble Bumble is a product you can buy on line or at Sephora. It is a spray that comes in four different colors. You apply it on your hair to cover the gray in between appointments. The best thing about this product is that it does not rub off and will last until your next shampoo. It also looks natural.
 
You never want to have the back of your head show gray. It looks much worse than having faded hair color around your temples.

There have been many comments about the negativity on display in the Republican race for the presidential nomination. While some commentators suggest negative advertising works, it is generally seen as a bad way to win.

Today, especially in interviews, you have to refrain from saying anything negative about a previous employer or situation. Instead, you want to speak to what you can do and what your positive qualities are.

Once you begin a negative dialog, your listeners will be wondering what negative things you will eventually say about them.

These are individuals who prefer not to be with other people. They go out of their way to be alone. Of course, most people are social beings and want to congregate. However, if you are in a situation when being a social isolator appears to be a good idea, here are five things to do when you want to disengage:

1. Look away
2. Look down
3. Step away
4. Don’t shake hands
5. Frown

If you project one or more of these five expressions, you will always be a social isolator.

Tattoos are becoming more popular as individualistic self-expression. On Cake Boss, one of the bakers decided to tattoo his wife’s face on his arm as a token of his love. This was not a problem for him since he always wears a long sleeve garment. Also, in his industry tattoos are accepted. 

On the other end of the spectrum, Walt Disney has a very conservative dress code and culture. In fact, they just allowed their greeters to sport a tattoo as long as it doesn’t show while they are working. So culture does make a difference.

In general, you want to avoid tattoos that are revealed in a professional setting. If you decide to have a tattoo that you want to world to see in your free time, be sure you have comfortable clothing that will cover it up at work. Stay away from tattoos on your neck and fingers.