It’s a snow day! Actually, it’s snow on top of ice with prospects of a couple of days stuck at home. Perfect time for a wardrobe audit and closet cleanout! I know, the allure of the TV and internet provide formidable competition to the seemingly “blah” task of tackling the closet, but believe me – the sense of accomplishment plus image improvement will make it soooo worthwhile.
So follow along because this is exactly what I’m doing today:
First 20 minutes: Taking everything out of my side of the walk-in closet I share with my husband (he can do his side later!) Wow, even though I do this regularly I’ve collected a lot more stuff. Gotta get out the shoes, the paperwork I’ve shoved in here, the tennis racket I never use. Hey, I found a necklace in the corner that I thought I’d lost.
Next 20 minutes: With my side of the closet absolutely empty, start deep cleaning. Wipe down the shelves, the rod (it’s particularly dusty), vacuum the carpet, clean the baseboard, and spot treat some carpet stains. Hmm… maybe a little air freshener wouldn’t hurt.
Next hour (it may take you more or less time depending on how much stuff you have): Consider each garment one at a time. Each piece I pick up must pass all of the following tests to “earn” its way back into the closet.
1. Does it fit? This means trying things on. Ugh! Reality bites. I’ve found 5 pairs of pants that don’t fit – even if I lose 10 pounds, forget it. These go in the giveaway pile.
2. Is it a good color for me? No items allowed that make me look washed out or pale. If it’s a print, does it overwhelm me or relate to my body scale?
3. Is it still in style? I usually buy “classic” items that don’t go out of style too quickly, but even subtle fashion changes can doom our look to “out of date.”
4. Is it in good shape? We all have our favorite pieces that we “wear to death.” I’ve discovered a favorite shirt that must be discarded because it’s faded and has a coffee stain.
5. Does it need an alteration or repair? A missing button has prevented me from wearing a favorite jacket this winter. Sewing it on and it’s back into rotation! A couple of sweaters needed “shaving” for pilling. Now they look great. Sending my leather jacket to Arrow Fabricare in Kansas City for cleaning. You can download a free shipping ticket at www.arrowfabricare.com.
6. Do I love it? This is the final test – I won’t put anything back into the closet unless it makes me feel good about wearing it. No need to sabotage my image by feeling too guilty to discard a gift or keep a pair of uncomfortable shoes.
Whew! Only the good stuff passed the test. Everything in my closet works for me! Clutter banished! Time for lunch!
Watch out for the next posting on how to make $$ with your giveaway pile, plus easy closet ideas for organization and garment care.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Keeping the Stick in Lipstick
Time for a post on grooming. Ladies, listen up because we've found something great.
Without lipstick, I feel naked. My lips are pale and lifeless. Most women benefit from some color on the face and lipstick is key. However, I talk to people all day and it wears off pretty fast. I find myself using "activities" in presentations as an opportunity to furtively reapply some color. And at meals and social events, I always leave lip evidence on my glass no matter how carefully I try to sip my Pinot Noir.
The Fix: Maybelline Superstay Lipcolor. Many of you know we are devoted to the BeautiControl cosmetics that we sell at our office. But I gotta tell you. This Maybelline product is great. It stays on all day. Through speeches. Through lunch and dinner. Looks great.
Application tips - this is a two step process:
OK, anything this great probably isn't metabolized in my liver, but unless the FDA issues a product recall, I'm going to enjoy the all day color and leave no trace on my coffee cup or napkin!
Color options are good and the price is right at around $8 and is available at all drugstores.
Shout out to Michelle Anderson, attorney at Citigroup, for letting us know about this great item!
Without lipstick, I feel naked. My lips are pale and lifeless. Most women benefit from some color on the face and lipstick is key. However, I talk to people all day and it wears off pretty fast. I find myself using "activities" in presentations as an opportunity to furtively reapply some color. And at meals and social events, I always leave lip evidence on my glass no matter how carefully I try to sip my Pinot Noir.
The Fix: Maybelline Superstay Lipcolor. Many of you know we are devoted to the BeautiControl cosmetics that we sell at our office. But I gotta tell you. This Maybelline product is great. It stays on all day. Through speeches. Through lunch and dinner. Looks great.
Application tips - this is a two step process:
- Apply color end to absolutely clean lips
- Wait two minutes for drying
- Apply balm end
- Reapply balm later as needed
OK, anything this great probably isn't metabolized in my liver, but unless the FDA issues a product recall, I'm going to enjoy the all day color and leave no trace on my coffee cup or napkin!
Color options are good and the price is right at around $8 and is available at all drugstores.
Shout out to Michelle Anderson, attorney at Citigroup, for letting us know about this great item!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Thinking Like a CEO
When I work with middle managers who want to move to the next level, a common sticking point is communication with higher levels of management. “I’m totally comfortable and effective in meetings with my team and the staff I manage,” I hear, “but when I have to meet and present to my Vice President and the level above her, I'm not able to fully connect.” This is so typical -- the problem may be that you are not presenting the material in a way that is meaningful to the higher-ups.
A common misstep in this scenario is The Data Dump. You’ve proudly worked for weeks on a project so naturally you want your superiors to see all the details of how you got from point A to point B to point C to final solution. Consequently, you stuff the report and Powerpoint deck with what you believe to be essential data.
Guess what – executives typically hate presentations that start with the background data. Because they have to sit through countless meetings, they need to get the overview of each situation as quickly as possible. Remember, executives are thinking strategically -- they’re thinking about how your project fits into the 30,000 foot view of the business. Your details, while clearly showing you know your stuff, are clutter to them.
The Fix: Determine the three to five points you want the executives to know. What do you want them to think, do or decide from your presentation? Once you hone in on these, you have the gist of your Executive Summary – the sweetest of sweet concepts to top execs!
Now, here’s the catch – don’t think you can just eliminate the details! An executive is just as likely to ask you a specific question about your research or your methodology, so you must be ready. Appendices with all your details can be at the end, on hidden slides or in a background document. Think like a CEO and be prepared to give the high level analysis, but remember you’re also paid to know the details inside and out.
A common misstep in this scenario is The Data Dump. You’ve proudly worked for weeks on a project so naturally you want your superiors to see all the details of how you got from point A to point B to point C to final solution. Consequently, you stuff the report and Powerpoint deck with what you believe to be essential data.
Guess what – executives typically hate presentations that start with the background data. Because they have to sit through countless meetings, they need to get the overview of each situation as quickly as possible. Remember, executives are thinking strategically -- they’re thinking about how your project fits into the 30,000 foot view of the business. Your details, while clearly showing you know your stuff, are clutter to them.
The Fix: Determine the three to five points you want the executives to know. What do you want them to think, do or decide from your presentation? Once you hone in on these, you have the gist of your Executive Summary – the sweetest of sweet concepts to top execs!
Now, here’s the catch – don’t think you can just eliminate the details! An executive is just as likely to ask you a specific question about your research or your methodology, so you must be ready. Appendices with all your details can be at the end, on hidden slides or in a background document. Think like a CEO and be prepared to give the high level analysis, but remember you’re also paid to know the details inside and out.
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