Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #118

Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #118 (Video here:https://bit.ly/3Ary9UK )

In business today, people judge us immediately based on how we are dressed, before we even get to say one word. Unfair? Yep! I run my own soft skills corporate training business in Tokyo. Every day I carefully choose my clothes to determine that so important first impression. How do you handle it?

This day I had a breakfast networking event hosted by the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network at the Penninsular Hotel in Yurakucho. The theme was "Tourism In Japan: Capitalising on Growth" run by Rodrigo Gonzalez and featuring Karl Hudson, Area Vice President from Marriott International, Fujiko Amano, Director at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (METI) and Davide Desai, Executive Vice President for Sogo & Seibu. The room is full of executives, so a great venue for finding a new client and I may have found one. Let's see. I certainly could also hit up some of the CEOs to be my guest on my podcast Japan's Top Business Interviews. My friend Paul Dupuis, who has been on my podcast and used to be the Chairman of Randstadt in Japan, snapped this photo of me asking my obligatory question.

Another networking event at lunch, this time at the Tokyo American Club in Azabudai for the American Chamber and featuring rockstar economist Jesper Koll speaking on "Japan Outlook and Opportunities: From Capitalism That Works to Pax Nipponica". I always learn a lot and enjoy Jesper's presentations. In fact I wrote about him as a model for public speaking in my book "Japan Presentation's Mastery". Jesper always pulls a large crowd, so if you want to do networking, his events are a good place to be.

Later that afternoon I had my second online meeting with a multinational client to go through my proposal for their sales training needs here in Japan, with my contact in Learning and Development (L&D) based in London. She said she liked it, although she is catching up with a competitor later to compare, so let's see if I can move to the next stage to meet their local Japan Country Head.

For all of these occasions I obviously wanted to look professional. For each of the events I knew the rooms would be mainly full of guys in blue and navy suits, so I chose my charcoal grey bead stripe suit to standout from the hoi polloi.

The bead stripe differentiates the suit from the more typical pin stripe. Unless you know what you are looking for, you may not immediately notice it is a bead stripe, but somehow you will feel the suit is a bit different from the usual, even though you can't quite put your finger on it.

I chose my custom charcoal grey bead stripe single breasted suit with notch lapels, flap pockets, side vents, double cuffs and I wore over the calf black socks. I noticed that the guys on the panel were sitting up on a elevated platform, which can be a nightmare if you don't wear over the calf socks and your hairy shins are visible. All three were properly outfitted and we didn't have any catastrophies.

The light blue shirt with French Cuffs from Thomas Pink London, collar stays were light metal from Rampley & Co London, the pocket square the Amalfi series from Massimo Pirrone with a section which picked up the orange elements in the tie. The power tie from Thomas Pink London and the orange in the tie was also picked up by the Aboriginal Dreamtime Motif in the cufflinks.

The silver corporate badge from Dale Carnegie, the pen was my black and gold Mont Blanc, the business card holder from Lanvin, the watch my vintage gold 24m Cartier Tank Francaise with a black nubuck alligator strap.

The high shine shoes were from Carmina Majorca, cap toe Oxfords with a Swan Neck design, a Rain last, dark brown vegano leather, with JR Redenbach soles. I had to be cautious this day because it had been raining and leather soles can become very slippery on wet stone.

This shot was taken in the Mochizuki Room in our Akasaka HQ. Actually, looking at the photo, I am pretty happy with the high shine achieved on my shoes!

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About The Author

Dr. Greg Story, President Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training

[email protected]

Bestselling author of “Japan Sales Mastery” (the Japanese translation is "The Eigyo" (The営業), “Japan Business Mastery” and "Japan Presentations Mastery".? He has also written "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しょう) and his brand new book is “Japan Leadership Mastery”.

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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