image business school – lesson #8

Image Business School – Lesson #8:  Research Your Industry

How to Get From Here to There

“When you reach ‘there’, it becomes another ‘here’.” ~ Brunger

When my business coach, Steve Sobel, asked me to do this research, I had no idea how huge it could be.  The ‘aha’ for me was that when you get ‘there’, it becomes another ‘here’.  The only difference between someone just starting in this industry, and someone who has achieved the top, is that the person who has reached the top has done whatever was necessary.  To find out what’s necessary – ask them!  Here are the steps.

1.  Choose at least three people who are leaders in your industry, or who have achieved a level to which you aspire.  Acknowledging the level of success they have achieved, ask each if they would consent to an industry research interview.

2.  Develop a questionnaire to solicit the answers you require to make decisions about your career.  Include questions where the answers are not already available on their website on in their brochure.  Ideally the person you are interviewing will have an ‘aha’ moment.  Here are some ideas.

•  How and why did you choose this field?

•  What types of skills have you found to be essential?

•  To what do you attribute your success?

•  What one thing (person, event) made the biggest difference in the success of your business?

•  What was your biggest obstacle, and how did you overcome it?

•  What does the industry currently look like for you?

•  What does the future of this industry look like to you?

•  What advice would you give to someone who is starting in this industry?

•  What preparation would you suggest for someone who is interested in entering this field?

•  What are some issues that might hold me back from reaching my career goal?

3.  Conduct the interview in person or on skype; being able to see each other helps build the relationship, and facial expressions and body language add to the message.  If you can, record the interview so that you can play it back for more discernment.  A positive interview can build an ongoing relationship between you and the leader.

4.  You may choose to incorporate the interviews into an article to be submitted to your industry paper.  If you do this, use pictures of the interviewees, and allow them to see the article prior to publication.  Your name is now associated with industry leaders.

Karen Brunger is President of International Image Institute Inc., and a Past-President of the Association of Image Consultants International

This financial strategy is appropriate for the Canada and United States economies.

The suggested annual clothing investment for all clothing items (including inner wear, outerwear, and accessories) is 5 – 10% of the gross annual salary, or 5 – 10% of the desired gross annual salary.

To have an idea of the cost and quality of each item, we can use the example of a business suit.  If a business suit is worn only occasionally, it would cost about 1% of the gross annual salary.  If it is worn on a regular basis, it would cost about 1½% of the gross annual salary.  The cost and quality of other items would then fall in line accordingly.

Joann is vice president of a bank and wears a suit every day. Her suit would be 1.2 percent – 1.5 percent of her gross annual income. Leslie is a consultant and wears a suit once a month for meetings. Her suit is 0.8 percent – 1.2 percent of her gross annual income. Gordon is a farmer and rarely wears a suit. His suit would be 0.5 percent – 0.8 percent of his gross annual income.

A Professional Wardrobe Module (excluding outerwear and underwear) would cost about 3% of the total annual salary.   For a person with an income of $50,000, the price breakdown could look like this:

•     1 Jacket @ $450             =  $450
•     2 Bottoms @ $175 each =  $350
•     3 Tops @ $80 each         =  $240
•     1 Shoes @ $200              =  $200
•     1 Belt @ $75                    =     $75
•     2 pairs socks @ $20        =     $40
•     Ties or scarf                     =  $145
•     TOTAL                              = $1,500 (3% of $50,000)

The typical duration of a garment is five years.  The higher the refinement and quality of the clothing, the longer it will last.  Cold weather’s heavier weight clothing costs more and lasts longer than hot weather’s lighter weight clothing.

Karen Brunger, holistic image consultant, is President of International Image Institute Inc. and a Past-President of the Association of Image Consultants International.

ORGANIZE THE SPACE

Create Efficient Space

Whether your closet is walk-in or reach-in, make use of every inch:  from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall.  Ensure you have sufficient hanging rods, shelves, hooks, etc.  If your closet was not built-in, you can use hanging canvas shelves, hanging pockets, portable clear organizing drawers, baskets, sturdy wardrobe boxes, and pull-out racks.

You may explore different closet organizing companies for ideas:

• www.californiaclosets.com/closet-organization-systems
• www.closetmaid.com/
• www.houzz.com/photos/closet-organizers
• www.containerstore.com/shop/closet

Set Up Zones

Organize your closet space to have a section for your current season’s clothing, and for your alternate season’s clothing.  If your closet is not able to handle clothing for all seasons, you can use an alternate closet and/or a storage trunk. Move the current season’s clothing to your working closet, and the alternate season’s clothing to your storage space.

Use an eye-level rod for dresses, trousers, and other long garments; high and low rods can be used for short-hanging garments:  jackets, shirts, and skirts.

Higher shelves can be used for less-used items; accessible shelves are reserved for items that are used regularly.

ORGANIZE THE ITEMS

Garments

Organize your wardrobe by item, and hang ‘like’ items together.  For example, you can hang your clothes in this order:

1. Dresses
2. Jackets
3. Skirts
4. Trousers
5. Tops

Allow space between hangers for clothes to “breathe”.

Use padded, wooden or plastic hangers to maintain the shape of clothes.  Use one type of hangar for consistency.

Sweaters or loose-knits

Fold sweaters neatly in drawers or on shelves; they can lose their shape if hung.

Store heavy items on the bottom, lighter ones on top.

Items to be fixed

Keep clothes that require repair in a separate place, perhaps on a hook on the inside of the closet door.

Ties

Hang ties unknotted on a tie rack; fold knitted ties.

Shoes and Boots

Store shoes neatly off the floor in any of these systems:

1. on a shoe rack
2. on a shelf
3. in a shoe cubby
4. in shoe drawers
5. in shoe boxes with a label or photograph on the outside
6. in a shoe caddy

Use shoe and boot trees to maintain the shape of your good shoes and boots.

Socks and Hosiery

Fold socks together in pairs and store in a drawer.

Fold hosiery into balls and place in any of the following:

1. drawer organizer
2. see-through hanging pocket organizer
3. shallow box with cubby holes

Handbags

Line bags on a shelf with vertical dividers between; if soft-sided, keeping them filled will help keep the leather from cracking.

Belts

Hang belts by the buckle on hooks or a belt hanger.

Scarves

Hang scarves on any of the following:

1. scarf holder
2. hanger with clothes pins attached
3. skirt hanger

Fold scarves on shelves or in drawers.

Pocket Squares

Hang pocket squares on a pocket square hanger or on a hanger with clothes pins attached.

Jewellery

Store jewellery according to your preference:

1. in a jewellery box
2. in an organizer
3. on a jewellery tree
4. on hooks

Hats

Store using one of these methods:

1. in hat boxes
2. stacked one inside the other and the inside of each lined with tissue paper

Karen Brunger, BHEc, AICI CIP, is President of International Image Institute Inc. and Past-President of the Association of Image Consultants International.

Create maximum efficiency in your wardrobe, and have something for every occasion.

After your closet inventory and purge, it’s time to organize your clothing into modules.  To facilitate this, create module charts like the following.  Notice that the ratio of 3^rd layer to bottoms to tops is 1 – 2 – 3.  This is the real secret to an extensive wardrobe.  The more your clothing can mix and match, the more choices you will have.  Within each box, write a description of the item.  You will probably have items that can fit in more than one module, so it may take some creative and systematic thinking to create the most effective modules.

Your module, in illustration form, could look like this:

You could repeat the above charts for as many times as you need.  Any box that’s empty becomes your shopping list.  You can also photograph your module.

One module is good for about 20 hours in a week.  Since you are awake approximately 100 hours in a week, you would need at least 5 modules.  If you have more than 10 modules, you could probably be using your money for other things!

Here are some ideas of the number of outfits you can get using the module system:

• 5 modules:  30 – 950 outfits
• Add one more item to each module (a jacket or top), and from 5 modules you can get 60 to 1,750 outfits

For more detailed information, check https://www.imageinstitute.com/files/Capsule%20Dressing%20for%20Men%20and%20Women.pdf.

Karen Brunger, BHEc, AICI CIP is President of International Image Institute Inc., and a Past-President of the Association of Image Consultants International

Auditing your wardrobe is the first action to a more efficient, effective, and workable wardrobe.

To start, set up five ‘stations’ – these are areas to place clothing into categories.  You can place a sign at each station to indicate the category.  You will probably need the following stations:

• Keep
• Alter
• Charity
• Sell
• Trash / Other

Apply the following steps for each item in your closet, in the following order:

• Dresses
• Jackets / blazers / cardigans
• Skirts
• Trousers
• Tops
• Shoes, boots
• Outerwear

1.       Is it in good condition:

• Yes – continue
• No – assign to Trash

2.       Is the quality level appropriate for your position?

• Yes – continue
• No – assign to Charity or Sell

3.       Does the colour suit you? If you’re not sure, hold it up to you in daylight, and check if it works for you or against you.

• Yes – continue
• No – assign to Charity or Sell

4.       Does the style suit you? Try it on to know for sure.

• Yes – continue
• No – can it be altered to suit you?

• Yes, it can be altered to suit – assign to Alter
• No, it cannot be altered to suit – assign to Charity or Sell

5.       Does it fit?

• Yes – assign to Keep
• No – assign to Alter

Now it’s time to follow through!

• Keep:       Put the items back in your closet.
• Alter:       Take the items to your alterationist.
• Charity:  Bag the items and take them to a charity drop-off.
• Sell:         Dry-clean the items and take them to a consignment shop, or make other preferred arrangements.
• Trash:     Items may be used for rags, crafts, or just put in the trash.

 Karen Brunger, BHEc, AICI CIP is President of International Image Institute Inc. and Past-President of the Association of Image Consultants International.

PRINCIPLES 20 – 36

20.  Focus.  Each technique must have kime or focus.  There is a direct correlation between focus and success.

21.  Persevere.  Take continuous action to improve.  The road to success is one step at a time.

22.  Apply knowledge.  Knowing how to do a technique is not the same as being able to implement a technique.  I endeavour to apply what I know, and constantly improve my application.

23.  Be clear and concise with intent.  In Karate I strive to avoid excessive movement (muda), unnatural thoughts or actions (mura), and lack of meaning behind the action (muri).

24.  Be confident.  In Karate, inhibited or limited techniques do not get the job done.  I allow myself to go out into the world, free of limited thinking.

25.  Be flexible.  Flexibility means I’m able to respond appropriately.

26.  Use timing to advantage.  I take action when appropriate and relax when appropriate.  In Karate some moves are fast action, but there are also pauses of relaxed readiness.

27.  Choose when to use open, receptive communication versus directive.  In a soft (ju) technique, we use our partner’s momentum so that we can then lead in the direction we choose.   A hard (go) technique uses force.  Soft can be as powerful as hard.

28.  Be humble.  We all have value; we all have potential.  I am open and available to grow, and I can learn from any source.

29.  See it through to the end.  Zanshin is an aware and present mind to completion.

30.  Be open to all possibilities.  Mushin is ‘no mind’.

31.  Develop intuition.  I intuitively make the right move at the right time.

32.  Live with ethics, integrity, honesty, sincerity, justice, honour, self-control, composure, stoicism, manners and compassion.  In Karate this is called Bushido.

33.  Live in internal peace and mastery.  This is Budo, which is the name for Japanese martial arts.

34.  Follow the steps to mastery.  ShuHaRi:   Shu – Learn the fundamentals and techniques.  Ha – Reflect on what I know, and look for new ways.  Ri – What I do is natural and transcends knowledge.

35.  Perfect and expand character.  “The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.”  - Gichin Funakoshi, father of modern Karate.

36.  Attain enlightenment (mu); this is the pinnacle of Karate.

I hope you find these principles useful!  And if you’re not already in Karate – maybe you’ll check it out.

Karen Brunger, BHEc, AICI CIP is a holistic image consultant and President of International Image Institute Inc.

www.imageinstitute.com

PRINCIPLES  7 – 19

7.  Show respect and consideration to everyone.  In Karate we bow as one way of showing respect.  In Bunkai (application) or Kumite (sparring) we practice as partners or in teams.  I honour the people that allow me to work with them.

8.  Appreciate relationships.  Life is about relationships.  In the dojo we need to practice with others in order to improve.  The wider the variety of people I work with, the richer and more valuable my experience.  It’s easy to work with people that are similar to me.  I learn even more from people that are different from me.

9.  Become ‘one’ with others.  In Karate as we’re working with our partners we need to feel them, and ‘be’ them.  We are not separate.  I energetically connect with others to expand who I am.

10.  Have spirit.  Attitude is more important than technique.  Complacency can lead to stagnation.  In Karate, a kiai (short yell) magnifies the technique.

11.  Be relaxed and ready.  This enables me to move towards an opportunity (skuri), or avoid a negative (sabaki).

12.  Project energy.  When I expand my energy, I have more personal power, and my actions have more impact.

13.  Breathe!  Diaphragmatic breathing gives me more energy and power.

14.  Be aware!  Ichi gan means first – eyes.  When I know what is happening around me, I am able to respond.  In Karate, we look first.

15.  Balance.  Ni Soku means second – stance.  In Karate we need to be grounded in a strong stance before we execute a technique.  A strong grounding enables me to have balance. In balance, I am steady, and cannot be pushed over.  I endeavour to have balance in my emotions and in my life.

16.  Be resolute. San tan means third – powerful resolute spirit.  In Karate we need to come from a core of absolute commitment. There is no room for fear.  I feel my core power, and operate from that.

17.  Take appropriate action.  Shi riki means fourth – strong technique.  I do what needs to be done.

18.  Strive for perfection.  In practicing a kata (form), we break it down into individual techniques and practice each technique over and over, constantly working at making it the best we can.

19.  Make it count.  Use the most powerful technique to get the job done. One knock-out punch is more effective than 5 half-hearted punches.

Karen Brunger, BHEc, AICI CIP, is a holistic image consultant and President of International Image Institute Inc.

www.imageinstitute.com

PRINCIPLES 1 – 6

For twelve years I have been taking Karate at the Richmond Hill Karate Club.  And I have to tell you – Karate does just as much, if not more, for self-awareness and personal growth than it does for self-defence.   How I do Karate is how I do life.  When I’m afraid to commit to a technique because I might get hurt – I ask myself when am I afraid to commit in other areas.  When my technique lacks power – I may also be holding back my personal power to succeed in business.  When I lose balance in my stance – I look to how I may not have balance in my life.   As my confidence grows in Karate, so does my income – it has increased with each change in belt colour.

Here are thirty-six Karate principles that apply to life – relationships, career, and health.

1.  Visualize the outcome I desire.  What I hold in my mind, I can create.  In a relaxed state, I imagine the ideal scenario.  Thoughts have energy.  The more I think a particular thought, the more energy is directed into making it a reality.

2.  Take responsibility for preparing myself.  I seek out the education, tools, skills and experience I need to get to the next level.  I get help from my mentors, and I mentor others.  I practice my techniques, constantly striving for perfection, so that struggle turns to ease. I research for deeper understanding and richer context.

3.  Be clear on protocol and procedures.  When an issue arises, it’s often because there is no system in place, and people involved may have different expectations.  Systems pave the way for absolute efficiency and effectiveness.   I can develop new systems for my life and business, or follow existing systems.  In our dojo we line up in order of belt colour, and follow a formalized system of bowing and acknowledging.

4.  Be appropriate and immaculate in attire and grooming.  A wrinkled gi (uniform) or poor hygiene is not respectful to me or those around me.

5.  Leave ‘baggage’ at the door.  This means clear the mind to be open for something new.  When I enter the dojo, I remove my shoes and leave them at the door.  I also leave behind anything in my mind that does not involve Karate.

6.  Be of service.  I endeavour to be of service to everyone in my life and to the planet.  In the dojo, each one of us is of service to each other, and to our dojo.  Even the Sensei helps clean the dojo.

Karen Brunger, BHEc, AICI CIP, is a holistic image consultant, and President of International Image Institute Inc.

www.imageinstitute.com

To Prepare Luggage:

• Avoid putting your home address on the bag; only put your name, destination, and flight number.
• On the inside of the suitcase attach your business card, in case the luggage goes astray.

To Pack Luggage:

• Place heavier items near the bottom, and lighter, more fragile items near the handle.
• Make your clothing conform to the shape of the luggage with the fewest folds possible.
• To minimize creases, line clothing with tissue paper, or cover each folded garment with plastic dry cleaner bags.
• Fold garments along seams and natural body creases.
• Fold jackets inside out with lapels together, and then fold in half at waist.  The arms can be folded in half inside.
• Fold trousers in half at the knee; if the waistband is too wide for the suitcase, fold the back over at an angle.
• Fold skirts at the hip line or in half length-wise.
• Fold shirts by folding one-third of each side to the back.  Fold the sleeves over the back so that it falls vertically.  Bring the tails up over the cuffs, and then fold the shirt in half at the waist; the bottom of the shirt will reach the base of the collar.
• Use folded garments to create tightly packed layers.  Fill gaps with underwear, hosiery and belts.
• Stuff hosiery in shoes, and place shoes in shoe bags.
• Use travel size containers for toiletries.  Squeeze out excess air to create a vacuum, and place the lid on tightly.
• Keep all medications in the original, labelled container.
• Wrap the toiletry bag in plastic to avoid leakage, and pack in a corner near the handle.
• Ensure that the weight of each of the two allowed checked baggage does not exceed 22 kg or 50 pounds.  Ensure the weight of the carry-on bag does not exceed 10 kg or 22 pounds.  Items that exceed these limits are subject to excess baggage charges.

Have a great trip!

Karen Brunger, BHEc, AICI CIP, is President of International Image Institute Inc., Chief Stylist of the Style Institute, and Past-President of the Association of Image Consultants International.