A recent article in the New York Times featured Brandee Parker who was once head of marketing for Facebook. In the piece, Ms. Parker talks about the time she and a colleague brought a black suit for her boss, Mark Zuckerberg, to wear on his first trip to Davos, Switzerland, for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. They thought that the occasion called for more than Zuckerberg wearing his usual hooded sweatshirt.

Mark never wore the suit. Instead, he put on his Patagonia sweatshirt. (And we are all not Mark Zuckerberg or a CEO of a Fortune 100 company.)

However, I agree wholeheartedly with Brandee.

This does not mean that if I like to wear leggings and an oversized sweater that those clothing choices are appropriate in a business setting. There are many choices today. In fact, a nice pair of slacks and jacket can provide the same comfortable feeling as a sweatshirt.

When I have garnered the respect capital then maybe the leggings will be appropriate. (I saw that Sheryl Sandberg wore them stage for a presentation showcased on the TV show, 60 Minutes. She certainly has the respect capital.) Also, I have learned if my clothing does not feel comfortable and keep me true to myself, then I think twice before moving ahead. I give the same advice to my clients.

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Spoke are the current major social media vehicles in today’s business world. To establish your presence, you must have a current, attractive picture, an up to date bio and a short list of current things you are involved in.

Your network must include industry associations. Marketing may include blogs that will impact your audience. The blogs on your Facebook or Twitter updates should reflect current issues related to your work. They must also be positive and once in a while give a good inside view of you as a person.

Why does it matter? Because the world moves so fast that we are not always allowed a face-to-face with our audience. Social media allows you to cast a wider net to capture your audience.

Often, talented folks make the mistake of speaking in a voice and using words that are not natural to them. This becomes noticeable when they are asked to explain what they said and they get tangled up in explaining what they mean.

The late Tim Russet of Meet the Press once said that he always knew that if his father understood what he was saying then he was speaking in his own voice and words. His comments would also resonate with the rest of his audience.

To ensure you are speaking in your own voice, begin to practice with folks who don’t know your subject. If they understand your explanation, then you are speaking in your own voice.

We all have an inherent communication style– it is how we are wired.

It can adapt and even grow organically when you surround yourself with folks whose approach is different than yours. For example, if you tend to be an introvert, work with someone who is a natural extrovert. If you have a task oriented work style, bring folks in who are more strategic. Watch how they approach situations. Take note of the way people interact with them. Use their interactions as a guide to stretch yourself to become a more rounded and aware communicator.

The General Social Survey from University of Chicago social scientists, is considered the scholarly gold standard for understanding social phenomena. Regarding happiness, their numbers have been remarkably consistent.

They suggest that a key element to happiness occurs when people are able to marry their passion to their work skills. This helps bring value to their lives. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said “Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies the joy of achievement, the thrill of creative effort.”

This passion cannot be manufactured.