A belt is a flexible band, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing, and it serves for style and decoration. Belts have been documented for male clothing since the Bronze Age. Both sexes used them off and on, depending on the current fashion, but it was a rarity in female fashion with the exception of the early Middle Ages, late 17th century Mantua, and skirt/blouse combinations between 1900 and 1910 (from wikipedia.org/wiki).

Today the belt has become a fashion accessory. They come in many shapes, colors and fabrics. For women, wide belts look best on thin bodies if the belt is a different color. If you do not have a thin shape, choose a belt that is the same color as the outfit you are wearing.

For men, it is always about the buckle. Simple is better for professional dress. If you’re seeking fun, go for it with various sizes and color.

Your belt choice should always be a fashion statement not a fashion disaster.

How many times have we made mistakes or hurt someone’s feelings to the point where we had to apologize for our transgressions? Apologies have credibility only if they’re followed by consistent actions.

An apology, whether by Tiger Woods or by a person who is always late, will only be valued if the offenses are not repeated. Of course, the words of the apology have to be meaningful and sincerely delivered.

So, when you make a mistake, apologize with sincerity and back it up with the appropriate action.

Black is a power color and it’s a wonderful sight against the back drop of white ice. It is amazing when I have watched the many skaters’ costume choices and how those choices have worked for and against them. If you watched the skaters you know the ones I am talking about. Sometimes, you ask yourself – what were they thinking?

Evan Lyacek’s accents of silver visually accented against the black worked very well, though. It broke up the starkness of the color and at the same time worked visually with his moves.

Whether you are performing on ice or speaking in front of a group, synch your color and clothing choices with your body movements. Make them relevant to your performance.

Plus, if you are thinking of wearing black, make sure it works as well for you as it did for Evan Lysacek— the winner of the men’s gold metal figure skating.

How many times have you been with people at a party or in a meeting, who never let you get a word in edgewise? And you’re stuck listening to the self imposed subject matter expert of everything we do.

They make our bodies go tense, cause us to make faces, and raise our battle instinct in preparation to enter a war of words. Quite simply, our dark side comes out.

Here are three tips to help us handle these folks:

• Do not try to join in the conversation. It only prolongs the talk (and the agony).

• Let them have about two minutes of talk time. Then do something physical (offer to get them a drink or show them an interesting item).

• Acknowledge their input. Often these folks are insecure and feel they have to show us how smart they are. When we acknowledge that, they may stop talking. (And leave enough oxygen for everyone else!)

Today everyone wants the best value for their dollar. How can we say seek this out without sounding rude or needy?

For example, I have a mid-luxury car. Whenever I get it serviced, it is triple the going rate. I continue to go to the dealer because a permanent service record will exist when I sell the car.

However, I never pick up my car without holding my breath before I look at the bill. This time the car needed some extra service and the cost was substantial. So, instead of getting huffy, I asked calmly and with a smile, “Would you consider discounting this for me?”

I ended up getting a 10% discount!

So, always ask for a discount politely. Use the phrase” Would you consider” with a smile and you will get a discount the majority of the time.

We get very comfortable with what works. A great example is hairstyles.

How many folks do we see today that are still wearing the same hairstyle they wore in high school? This goes both for men and women.

Hairstyles constantly change. Women’s styles have gone from very puffy to flat, long to short, short to long. Note the conservative hair for men. It’s still short and getting shorter with the new styles.

When asked why he cut his hair, the Grammy-winning soul singer, Maxwell, recently responded:

“I didn’t want to be a caricature. There’s nothing worse than that guy who’s still rocking with his hair at whatever it was, 20 years after his heyday. The world’s moved on, and you’re stuck.”

So, when people look at your picture from 10 years ago and say you haven’t changed a bit – make sure the comment doesn’t refer to your hair!

Change is tough. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain. And when we try to do too many things at once it can be overwhelming.

A good approach is to start with something easy that will make a significant impact and make you feel good. This also will provide you with a quick start.

For example, a new piece of clothing, a shirt or a change in your hair style will give you a new lift. Or, if you want to be a better speaker visit a Toastmaster club and listen to other folks speak.

Another big one is weight. Going on a diet is too hard. However, eating smaller portions might be a good start. The main idea is to start small and take one thing at a time. You’ll be amazed at the feeling of accomplishment you get which in turn will keep your momentum going.

The U.S. has been in a deep freeze these last few weeks. In fact, Florida has experienced their coldest temperatures in the last twenty years. So, it’s understandable that we cut ourselves a bit of slack as we pile on layers of mismatched clothing.

Down coats are wonderful. They are lightweight and keep you very warm. Add on a smart scarf with color and you are good to go. Now comes to the serious part for both girls and guys – the boots. High or low ones will add the finishing touch. Plus, no matter how they look, you are allowed to wear your favorite pair of boots for warmth. The main thing is staying warm. Looking stylish comes after that.

The good news is now all coats, scarves, hats and gloves are on sale!

I have a questionnaire that is used in my workshop. One of the questions on it is whether or not it’s acceptable to talk on a cell phone in public. Most folks answer that it is not. But you and I know everyone does it. And now we are even getting physically hurt doing it!

The article “Forget Gum” in the January 17th issue of the New York Times spotlighted this phenomenon. Walking and using the cell phone has become risky. In fact, people are getting hurt because they are distracted. They run into cars, trip on items inside and outside of the home or workplace and walk into walls.

Today we multi-task everything to get the job done. Making mistakes is one thing but getting hurt is another. So, act the way we answer my cell phone etiquette question. When talking on the cell phone, stand in one spot. And please, make sure it’s a place where no can hear you. No one wants to be a captive listener to your one sided phone call!

I like the line in my favorite movie, Sleepless in Seattle, when Meg Ryan tells Tom Hanks, “It may not be personal to you, it was personal to me.” It is tough in today’s work environment to avoid the personal aspect of business.

Business decisions are based on facts, numbers and the bottom line. However, I do believe if you are competitive in all areas, what will always win out is the personal factor.

Do they want to have a cup of coffee with you?
Do you communicate in a manner that they understand?
Do you have the same values, energy and understanding of the bigger picture as they do?

The second page of the business section of the New York Times focuses on leadership and a selected CEO. Most often, people are drawn to the personal qualities of their leaders. Read what Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics interview in Sunday’s edition – January 24, 2010.

So, in my experience – all things being the same – whether you get the job, are the person they want on the team or get anointed as the next leader – it’s all personal.