Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #77

Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #77 (video here: https://bit.ly/4eLbJNC )

I run my own soft skills training franchise business in Tokyo and many years ago, I decided to dress for success. Each day I consult my schedule and that day's work content drives my sartorial choices. Before I head out the door every day, I check myself in the mirror and ask, "Do I look like one of the most professional people in my industry".

This day I attended the British Chamber event at Tokyo Midtown ”Elevating Workplace Engagement. Mastering Human Centric Communication”. As usual, I was there networking, looking for clients, but this event title attracted a positive horde of ravenous recruiters, all looking for clients too. As a result, there weren't any actual clients in that room, so a disappointing result. I have had the same issue with rooms full of recruiters at American Chamber events, so they must all be in fierce competition for clients.

I had a client meeting in the late afternoon in super cool Naka dori in Marunouchi. I have been chasing this client for months and for various reasons, we have never been able to get back together to complete the follow-on from the first discussion we had about their training needs back in December 2023. I won the deal for two very significant programmes!!! That was a good result and worth the wait.

That evening I attended an event at the Tokyo American Club hosted by the NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia) Global office in the form of a business fireplace talk with the title "Creating Success Stories - Innovation and Growth - Germany and Japan in Challenging Times“.

The panelists were well known local economist Jesper Koll, the new boss of NRW Global, Carolina Kawakubo and outgoing NRW Global head, Georg Loer.

Jesper, as usual, was absolutely fantastic as a speaker and really worked the audience. I actually referenced him as a model in my book Japan Presentations Mastery and he has been a guest on my podcast Japan's Top Business Interviews Episode #87.

Carolina is the new boss and public representative. Her public speaking skills were very professional, so I am sure she will be a tremendous asset to NRW Global in Japan. She has also been a guest on my podcast Japan's Top Business Interviews Episode #19 when she was the President of Medskin Solutions.

Georg is an old friend of mine. We met in 2001 at a High Tech Study Group meeting, a group full of serious, well educated Japan experts, all with many decades of experience. This is a very high level group led by Glen Fukushima, who is also another total legend here. Glen was my guest on Japan's top Business interviews Episode #36.

Georg has been doing his investment and trade promotion role for the last 17 years. I have been in Japan 39 years and Georg 38, so he is a real Japan hand. Georg was my guest on my podcast Japan's Top Business Interviews Episode #83 and had many insights to share.

When we did the podcast, I found we had so many things in common with our experiences in Japan.

This was his farewell party and brought a lot of good networking opportunities, because Georg is very well connected.

I wanted something a little conservative for the British Chamber event, the client meeting and evening networking event. The subtle blue in the broad pinstripe in the suit was not competing with the butchers light blue and white stripe in the shirt. To add a bit of flair and stand out in the dark suited crowd, I added my Amalfi Series pocket square from Massimo Pirrone to bring some colour to the outfit.

I chose my custom dark grey suit. The wool fabric was woven by Marling and Evans 1782. It has a broad spaced light blue pinstripe, notch lapels, double pleats, double cuffs, side vents, flap pockets, over the calf black socks.

Summery custom butchers light blue and white stripe shirt with white French Cuffs and white collar, collar stays by Kirby Allison, navy blue tie by France Spada, tied with a double Windsor knot.

Pocket square by Massimo Pirrone from his Amalfi series in a reverse puff, corporate badge by Dale Carnegie, gold 40mm Versace watch with the Medusa motif, custom Nubuck alligator cobolt blue strap by Jean Rousseau, Mont Blanc black and gold pen, Lanvin business card holder.

Shoes are high shine, black, Pollini calf skin leather Derby wingtips with Balmoral stitching and decorative brogueing on the medallion, tied with a Parisian knot.

The photo is taken outside my office, as we were running Day Two of our Leadership Training For Managers class in the Mochizuki Room that day, where I normally take the shots for Fare Bella Figura.

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About The Author

Dr. Greg Story, President Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training

The bestselling author of “Japan Sales Mastery” (the Japanese translation is "The Eigyo" (The営業), “Japan Business Mastery” and "Japan Presentations Mastery" and his new books "How To Stop Wasting Money On Training" and the translation "Toreningu De Okane Wo Muda Ni Suru No Wa Yamemashoo" (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのは止めま and Japan Leadership Mastery (under translation).

Dr. Greg Story is an international keynote speaker, an executive coach, and a thought leader in the four critical areas for business people: leadership, communication, sales and presentations.?He leads the Dale Carnegie Franchise in Tokyo which traces its roots straight back to the very establishment of Dale Carnegie in Japan in 1963 by Mr. Frank Mochizuki.

He publishes daily blogs on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter

Has 6 weekly podcasts:

1.?????Mondays -??The Leadership Japan Series,

2.????Tuesdays – The Presentations Japan Series

Every second Tuesday - ビジネス達人の教え

3.????Wednesdays - The Sales Japan Series

4.????Thursdays – The Leadership Japan Series

Also every second Thursday - ビジネスプロポッドキャスト

5.????Fridays - The Japan Business Mastery Show

6.????Saturdays – Japan’s Top Business Interviews

Has 3 weekly TV shows on YouTube:

1.?????Mondays - The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show

Also every Second Thursday - ビジネスプロTV

2.????Fridays – Japan Business Mastery

3.????Saturdays – Japan Top Business Interviews

In the course of his career Dr. Greg Story has moved from the academic world, to consulting, investments, trade representation, international diplomacy, retail banking and people development.

Growing up in Brisbane, Australia he never imagined he would have a Ph.D. in Japanese decision-making, become a 39 year veteran of Japan and run his own company in Tokyo.

Since 1971, he has been a disciple of traditional Shitoryu Karate (糸東流) and is currently a 6th Dan.

Bunbu Ryodo (文武両道-both pen & sword) is his mantra and he applies martial art philosophies and strategies to business.

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