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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

What ever happened to.....


Modesty....

When I look at old magazine covers, I am thrilled to see images like this one. I mean, in our society today, we're taught that less is more, especially when it comes to women's clothing. But is that necessarily true? I know that the '40's and '50's were not perfect by any means, and I'm sure people had their fair share of indiscretions. But at least they had the decency to want to conceal them from the world. They had something called shame. And I don't know what's happening lately, but sometimes, I wish we could magically transport ourselves back to that time in history to see how people behaved. Look at the girl on this magazine cover. It struck me that she is covered up to her neck, and even has her hands covered, with a conservative hairstyle. And she looks classy and beautiful. All the while, still maintaining her femininity and charm.....


Charm Magazine, which would later become Glamour Magazine.


A simpler time, when roles were more clearly defined....

Sometimes, I wish I could be her. Yes, I said it! Sometimes, I truly wish the roles I was expected to take in my life were as clearly defined as this girl in the picture. Even though it's a contrived photo, and we don't know what's really going on in her life, she is portrayed as a glamorous sort of  housewife who is just getting out into the work force. A young secretary perhaps, looking for work. Okay, my imagination is going pretty far, here. But I can't help but think about what it would be like if  I was her. Would it be exciting for me to be able to work after women had stayed home for so long with the children, and kept the house? Or would I resent it?


Fast forwarding to today.....

In today's hustle and bustle world, the roles for women are not as clearly defined. We're expected to "do it all", including keeping the house, working, taking care of our children, managing multiple tasks at once, and sometimes multiple jobs. We have so much on our plates, and a lot of the time, we are expected to support our families by ourselves, too. And women don't have the same value for themselves as they did in the past. We don't cover ourselves up any more...most women just let it all hang out! Because they've been brainwashed into thinking, "if you've got it, flaunt it." Right? How many damn times have I heard that stupid tag line? And I have never completely bought it, either. I know it's a bunch of nonsense. We've been taught we need to "get out there, and make something of ourselves!" which is all good, by the way. That's one of the positives of this time period. That we can make it happen as women, and be whatever we want. There are no limitations. Still, sometimes, I wish I could be her.


Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Wake those clients up, will you? They sure need it!

Sometimes, I get very irritated when customers think I'm just there to exchange pleasantries with them, and they want to spend a half hour chatting with me about their pets, or their new house. Not that I don't care, but I'm working! Do you get that? I'm at work, and though you may think I'm your buddy, and I just love to stand there and chat away about nothing in particular, I really don't. Sorry about the misunderstanding. I know I led you to believe we were best friends, and that I might come over some time. But the truth is, that I'm really standing there to make money. First and foremost. Do you see the dollar signs flashing in my eyeballs? That's because my company expects me to make a quota for them, and no, I am not dodging you or your questions. I am just politely excusing myself to go help someone who will help me achieve mine and my company's objective.

Why is it that I have no problem with this, but other salespeople don't get it. Time is money. It surely is. And if you make a cold call, exchanging pleasantries, and establishing a rapport, is that the same as getting a step further in the sales cycle? No, it's not. Reality check. You haven't advanced in the sales cycle if you have no sign of a commitment on the side of your prospect. No appointment, no sale, no dice. You are just exchanging pleasantries. Sure, it's a good way to lead into making a potential sale, but the chances of you actually gaining business from a prospect who has wasted your time so much doesn't seem very promising. Does it? So what can you do differently? You can make the decision to be assertive, and ask for the appointment, or even better, the account! That's what you can do! You can word your exchange in a friendly manner, while also saving yourself, and the potential client some time. Sometimes, that's all it takes to wake up your prospect, and help them realize that, yes, you are friendly, but you are also there with one objective in mind....business.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Satan's Affiliates on Twitter

#1, or "The Best!" The only hand signal that still means the same thing....


There's something that been happening lately (or maybe I've just been sheltered) on Twitter. Either I'll have a lovely follower flipping me the bird on their profile picture, or flashing the sign of the dark side. What am I supposed to do with this? I have my own way of handling such offenses. First, I don't follow them back. Second, if I don't like them at all, I block them. If I find I have some sort of pity for them, (i.e. they look even the least bit nice) I don't block them. But I sure as hell aint following 'em!! Call me old-fashioned, call me a stick in the mud, whatever!!! I don't care.

Twitter is a portal for business, and if you're just on there talking about the latest beat down on your block, you've got no business being on Twitter! Sorry, Twitter is not for everyone....it's for promoting a business model, or at least some kind of intelligent thought. It's for poets, writers, business people, entrepreneurs, etc. People that have something important to share with the world. And if all you want to share with me is to tell me how Sally whats her face is a b***h, and she's just frontin' doesn't really know how to throw down, etc., well, how is that going to help me grow in my quest for knowledge? It's not, my friend. And therefore, I will ignore you, allowing you to follow my tweets, but I will not follow yours. You have nothing to offer me.

Monday, January 10, 2011

A winning attitude

I'm very excited to say that I'll be winning another award for top sales....and this time, I wasn't expecting it. I've managed to get through a pretty difficult year, which has really challenged me professionally and personally. One thing I've learned, though, is that through it all, I've been true to my own philosophy of "do your best, and be the best at what you do." This can pertain to anything you decide to do in life. It may not be easy, and it probably won't be, but you'll never feel like you were trying to accomplish someone else's dreams for you.


I use the metaphor of life being like a race quite a bit. I've thought about how to be a silent threat, how to compete quietly, while gradually sneaking up on the competition. That's how I compete. I don't even know if I'll ever win, but I always compete the way I know how. Gradually, and by following daily guidelines. Consistency is the key to winning. And while that guy in the blue uniform may have been in the back at the start of the race, he eventually finished first. That's because he knew it wasn't just about how you start off. It's how you muscle through the rough times, while keeping that smile on! That's when you know you've made it! 


And there are times when it simply means more, because maybe there was a shadow of a doubt that you might not finish at all, and you found that you actually won! Whatever it is that you want to accomplish, you can achieve it. It may not happen exactly when or where you expect it to, but success can be achieved, and it must be achieved for us to feel a sense of accomplishment in our lives. This is the mainstay of the human experience....always striving to achieve. 



Challenging Society's Standard of Beauty

I have to admit, I'm having a little trouble understanding why it is that there are some women out there who are completely okay with having a fuller figure, while others are completely ashamed of theirs. I have never been a size 6, so growing up this way has taught  me to love myself as I am....a beautiful full figured woman! It makes me sad to see women literally crying when they come to me, saying how ashamed they are to be a size 6! I will never be a size 6, no matter how hard I try. It's just not the right size for me and my body type. I would have to literally starve to be that size, and for me, it's just not worth it. But to some ladies, who grew up being a size 0, well, this is utterly depressing. 

This is where self worth comes into play. In our society, we as women are made to believe that our worth is based on how we look, and the size of our clothes. That somehow, that makes us who we are. Well, it is part of who we are, but not all. A healthy self image comes from feeling good about who you are as a human being, and being okay with being imperfect. I have never bought into society's ideas of who I should be, because I know that if I'm always striving to be good enough for fashion's standard of beauty, i.e., a fashion model's size, I am guaranteed to be disappointed. I'm not made that way. It's just a fact I've had to accept, and I've moved on. I've created my own standard of beauty for myself that is attainable, and realistic. And healthy. Instead of beating myself up for being a plus size, I embrace what I look like, and make myself look as great as I possibly can! And it shows! I get more double takes than a lot of thinner women with less self-confidence, and it's all because of my attitude toward myself. I love the person that I am. That is the key to being beautiful....self acceptance, and love for who you are as a woman. After all, women were created to be beautiful, and there's no way we could be anything else....CC

How to maximize your look with color

I really think the importance of color is one of the most overlooked parts of fashion. It's also the most important one of all. Wearing the right colors can make all the difference in maximizing your overall look, and looking your most beautiful. It's so important to know what your best colors are, that it has now become a certifiable skill to choose colors for clients. This is called sci/art, and it is a cutting edge method of choosing the best colors for an individual. You come into your color analysis with no makeup on, and your hair is pulled up into a cap. You are taken into a room that has no wall pigmentation, so there is no false reflection onto your natural coloring. This can cause your results to be flawed. And the color expert doing your analysis along with the subject have to wear a colorless smock for the same reason. The results are phenomenal! I really want to have this done, and every lady out there should consider it as well. Yes, it's an investment, but you'll save so much money in the long run:) CC

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Makeup as a part of fashion

Hi there:) I hope all is well with my readers. As you know, I am a seller of women's fashions, and I am going to do a series of blog posts on the topic. I am passionate about helping clients find the perfect outfits to suit their needs and personal style. However, today I am going to cover a subject that is overlooked sometimes, and not always looked at as a part of fashion. It's makeup. Now, I know I have some male readers who are probably saying, "Why am I following this girl's blog, if all she wants to talk about is girlie stuff?"

Well, here's why you should keep reading....I'm pretty sure most of my male readers have a special lady in their lives, or at least want to have a wife of girlfriend at some point. And what better way to impress a woman than to know how to choose an outfit or makeup for her? Trust me, girls don't take it like you're too feminine....they take it to mean you really care about them if you know what they like. So it's helpful for you men out there to read this along with my female followers.....



I know there are women out there who would just assume it's okay to go without makeup, and that would make the world a better place, right? Wrong! Please don't skimp on the details of an outfit, and assume that certain elements aren't as important as others. Every single element of an outfit comes together to complete the overall look. A well selected outfit with complimentary makeup will enhance a woman's overall appearance, making her seem younger, more vibrant, and successful. And let's face it....we could all stand to look a little more sophisticated. As American women, we are a casual species. However, that shouldn't mean we have to get lazy when it comes to selecting color, and picking out our clothes every day. And being casual doesn't mean you should forget to take a good look at your face every once in a while to assess what you could do better. Even if it means just trying a new foundation or blush, it's a start in the right direction. 


Most women need a little bit of color added to their faces to brighten and complete their look, and that's where makeup comes into the picture. A well selected makeup palette can easily take ten years off of your appearance, and give you a visual lift. I am in love with Lancome's Photogenic Lumesscence foundation. It makes it so that you don't even need powder, and acts as a light concealer as well. I've found that a complimentary cheek color applied to the apples of the cheeks can freshen up your look completely. And if you are pressed for time, and only have time to apply 2-3 elements of makeup, I would also add a lip gloss to your repertoire. That's the bare minimum, girls! If you have more time, it is surely worth the investment. There are so many helpful products out there, and one of my favorites is Mac's eye shadow, along with their lip glosses. They are formulated so that you only need a small amount, and it will go a long way. So take that extra bit of time before you head out the door. I guarantee you those closest to you will take notice......CC