Happy new year to you! I hope you had a lovely festive break and are looking forward to everything that 2019 has in store for you.
You will have seen lots of posts across social media urging you to look back on the year you have just had, look forward to the new year, and with it the possibility of a ‘new you’.
Whilst a ‘new you’ is a very fluid concept, and annual reinvention is not necessary to move forward in life, I thought it would be a good time to talk about the first step in my book Look Like The Leader You Are. Reflect.
I have learnt over the years that this step is an important ‘pause’ that helps to understand the current situation and what is needed get to where you want to be.
It included exercises and activities, to help you understand what is preventing your image from working for you the best it can.
The first exercise, and one that will help keep going through the process (and your career in general come to think of it) is to identify your Why?
Sit down and spend 5 minutes to think about the following questions within each of the sections that follow. Write down whatever comes to mind as it will be helpful to refer back to over the journey.
1. Your career goals
Remind yourself exactly why what you wear matters to you, and the major reasons why you are embarking on this process of upgrading your image
What is your ultimate career goal?
What do you want to achieve by upgrading your image and wardrobe?
Why is this important to you?
2. Your wardrobe goals
Think about your wardrobe, shopping and getting dressed for work.
What are you fed up with?
What is currently not working for you?
What challenges have held you back from tackling your image up until now?
3. The Magic Wand
That good old hypothetical magic wand! If it was to be waved everything would be as you want it to.
Ask yourself
What does your wardrobe look like?
What does getting ready for work feel like?
Now picture yourself at an event or important meeting in your ideal future outfit.
How do you feel?
How do you perform?
Taking just 5 minutes to take stock of your current situation can be a huge part in helping you start your journey to where you want to be, can help you to see how much you would benefit from a wardrobe and image upgrade.
If you would like help in the process, take a look at how we work. If you would like to work through this step and the following six steps in my process you can buy the book here.
Lizzie Edwards is the owner of Lizzie Edwards Style Consultancy, one of London’s leading Personal Stylists and Image Consultants for Women in business and author of 'Look Like The Leader You Are; A 7-Step Style Strategy for Ambitious Women’
Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
