Agent for change...

I am always rather amused by people's reactions when they find out what I do. It's akin to discovering that someone is a psychotherapist or psychologist or psycho something... usually involves a lengthly explanation of why they are wearing the brown shoes as the others were a) chewed up by the dog this morning, b) their butler forgot to polish the black ones, c) they left them at their villa in the south of France.

And then I get the challenges... "so how would you brand me?" or "what would you do to give me a new image?" And one either laughs with a playful "did you realise that branding involves heat, iron and the painful sizzling of flesh" or is forced into what you would think would be common sense. "No, I can't work miracles, we have to work with what you've got... I am merely an agent for change." To which a fabulous response last week... "what, like a secret agent", which made me laugh, "yes, a secret weapon." And with my only link to a Lara Croft type figure firmly installed, we are both happy.

And the truth of it is that we cannot reincarnate into something entirely different... well not in this lifetime. It is almost impossible to pretend to be something that we are not without perhaps the rather rigorous training afforded by secret services worldwide. We need to work with what we have. It has to be authentic or not only would it not sit well, it would certainly not be believable.

The Miniature Earth

Eureka!

Two of my clients this week, both in the public eye have had what they termed a 'eureka' moment. Eureka moments are vital, for without them we have at best the status quo. Both have grappled back control of their public persona's, are in the driving seat and as a result, are having more success.

Too often those in the public eye forgo control of their public persona to their publicists and their public relations companies. Mostly because they haven't explored the authenticity of their Personal Brands and are not able to instruct those who they work with with any clarity or direction. If we are not sure, how can we expect others to be?

We need first to explore the nuances of who we are, what we do... what is compelling and unique about us before we get to the 'publish' stage. In this way, we are better able to work in partnership with those who take us to market, publish us, manage where we are published. And a relief for those who do take us to market - all is clear, no trial and error. We give them the ability to be so much more effective on our behalf...

Dar les Cigogne

Thank you Dar les Cigogne for the most fabulous weekend ever! I managed to persuade 30 close friends to escape to Marrakech with me for my birthday party... and what a party! There is something altogether heartwarming about taking over a hotel in its entirety and landing up with a personal house party. And the management and staff certainly made it feel that way.

And Marrakech still holds its magic for me, slowly working its way into my psyche once again to rest easy amidst the hustle and bustle of another world. The seemingly manic medina working to its own logic, with timeless relationships between shopkeepers, guides, drivers... all connected through family history and a common goal. All delivered with the grace and ease of true traders and merchants. One has to delve below the surface, connect with the sweet pace of life, look beyond our expectations and big city fears. Reminds me of my Africa,
South Africa... only spiced and simmering with the occidental, with its French and Middle Eastern ingredients.

And then a step through non-descript doors into the cool, compelling arms of the Dar les Cigogne. With internal courtyards, bubbling fountains, roaring fires in sublime rooms, all uniquely themed. The roof terrace a haven of greenery and loungers, overlooking the palace gates where the storks nest. The magical mysteries of hammam and the 30 foot ceiling in the spa taking one to another level of pure pampering and relaxation. And returning to one's room to find rose petals scattered on plush white linen with a welcoming fire to warm one's soul.

I shall be back...

New Yorkers...

New Yorkers have a rather pragmatic view when it comes to Personal Branding. They know the power of reputation and perception in a conscious, upfront way. As opposed to our European counterparts, who are aware of it in a vaguely unconscious, albeit rather endearing way.

Last week was refreshingly New York, in more ways than one. Most of my clients are rather successful to say the least. The concept of investing in oneself is almost inborn, inbred. At the top of the tree are those rather fascinating animals who work hard and smart at the three rules of creating a strong Personal Brand. Compelling? Absolutely. Authentic? You got it. Consistent? Oh yeah!

Almost all know the vital key to it all. That of being oneself. Better.

To quote Rob Goffee, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, London Business School... "Don't try to be someone else. Be yourself. More. With skill."

iPhone

I see that the new iPhone is due in UK stores today. At 6:02pm precisely. And the only network available is O2. Mmmm, my vodafone contract expires next August. The cost of being trendy? £269 for the iPhone, £400 to kill my contract, ages to get my number transferred. Worth it? Think I'll wait and see what everyone has to say about it... let Apple iron out any glitches. Perhaps. Maybe.

Just ask...

My client yesterday works for an investment bank. She goes to work everyday and attempts to be what she thinks that others expect of her. She masks some of her personal values as she thinks that its not necessary to reveal them, that they will be seen as a weakness.

What is actually happening is that she comes across as someone who is superficial and untrustworthy. She is attempting to lead and yet she is making it difficult for those around her to follow.

We all have a Personal Brand, whether we actively cultivate it or not. It is a collection of ideas and perceptions that others hold about us. Strong, effective Personal Brands are built on compelling, authentic, consistent values. When our Personal Brand is working in the way it should, leadership means that others are inspired to follow, and the opportunities find us.

So back to basics... what do you stand for, what are your values, who are you really? Does this match the perception that others have of you? The only way to find out is to ask - subtly, directly. Just ask. The results may be surprising.

Mika

Great Mika concert on Saturday evening and rocking afterparty, which left us crawling home in the early hours. So much fun. There is something rather intimate about venues that hold 6,000 people although commercially, may mean that Germany has not quite bought into this quirky artist yet. Either that or they missed out on the south of France this summer when Relax was wired into our psyche's. It was everywhere... the summer anthem.

Lessons in grace and elegance

I have just got back to my desk after a breakfast at Harvey Nic's to launch Lucia van der Post's new book; Things I wish my mother had told me - Lessons in grace and elegance.

Hearing Lucia talk about manners, grace and elegance made me think of my father somehow, and his take on 'manners maketh man'... a mantra that I grew up with. And yet, it is all too easy to slip and slop into less than graceful behaviour when we are under pressure.

There is a pure and simple elegance in those who are courteous, kind and honest. I find this particularly with clients who are hugely successful. It doesn't mean that they are walkovers... in fact, they are often driven, focused and have a steely vision. What it does mean is they do it all with grace, which is part and parcel of their Personal Brand. Leaders need followers and we choose to follow those who somehow manage to take us with them.

As for Lucia's Personal Brand... definitely all the right ingredients. She is unique and compelling, truly authentic, consistently consistent. And grace? She has it by the bucket load.

Got my goat...

Ohmygosh... the sun is out. Well, sort of. A darn sight better than yesterday and the promise of vital rays brightening our little island this week.

I feel the need for a soap box. A little one perhaps but can't understand why men in particular don't go through their wardrobes and chuck away anything that makes them look pudgy, fuddy duddy, unappealing. And it all comes out at this time of the year somehow. Nasty old jumpers in dubious colours, fraying collars, pleated baggy cords, scuffed weekend shoes. Its as if Saturday morning becomes the lets hunt the comfy frumpy stuff and put it all on in lots of lovely layers. Not to mention the weekend jacket, you know, the smelly old reliable... lots of practical pockets with remnants of last year's tissues or god help us, crusty handkerchiefs hiding in each compartment. And that's if they don't have children or dogs or go fishing.

The alternative... just wonder around Hyde Park over weekend and one can spot the image conscious Italian gent layered in cashmere a mile away. So effortless, so right.

A note on cashmere:

It is no small wonder that cashmere is one of the most precious and prized commodities in the world. It comes from the downy underfleece of the cashmere goat which makes its home in the highest and most inhospitable plateaux of Mongolia and Xinjiang. Each year one goat produces a meagre 4.5 oz of under fleece, which is painstakingly combed out every spring by nomadic herdsmen. It takes the hair of one goat to make a scarf and two or three for a jumper depending on the weight... 60% of each fleece is discarded.

Thank you cashmere goats, much appreciated.

Brand equity...

One of my clients has more equity in her Personal Brand than most. One would imagine that she must be comfortably wealthy, or comfortable at least. A lifetime of service to her industry, the doyenne, the font of all knowledge, the expert. And yet she is not reaping the rewards, not turning this into value.

The result is that she is frustrated, angry, financially challenged and fed up with her industry for not recognising her worth. She feels that she is not in control. And she isn't. She has passed control to the industry... and it's happy to receive the handout.

This is a common problem. Great Personal Brand, little to show for it. So how to fix it? Draw up a table with a list of revenue streams in the left hand column... put your competitors into columns across the top by experience/expertise. List what the market pays per revenue stream for each level of experience/expertise and then write down what you are charging in the far right hand column. This should reveal how you are asking your market to value you.

Next, write a list of all of the free stuff you give away that should go into one of your revenue streams, or that you could create a new revenue stream for.

Last but certainly not least, the rocket science bit: Start charging. Just like everyone else. Its normal. Your market expects it. You may lose a few leeches, however in the process you will achieve a greater perceived value taking future negotiations to another level.

After all, if you don't value yourself, how will anyone else?

The slow march...

There is something rather soulful about this time of the year and yesterday was the first day that I felt that there is no turning back now. The inevitability of winter is upon us, the slow march of days drawing in, settling in. And with it a sense of quiet contemplation preparing to hunker down, to release what has been and sit tight until the promise of renewal visits us again.

So too with our hopes, dreams, careers. A time for reflection, a time to take stock and evaluate. To shed the leaves of the year and let them fall beneath our feet. For they are spent and we have no choice but to let them go.

Be lucky...

Our reputations precede us... and so they should. We need others to know that we are the person that they should seek out in our area of expertise. Without this, we would forever be overlooked, miss out on opportunities that are perfect for us, perfect for our knowledge, experience and skills.

And yet I meet so many clients who are increasingly frustrated by far less qualified colleagues or competitors somehow landing the plum positions, key projects... making headway. And they feel that they should have been the one. That somehow people should have known to approach them. After all, they have more experience, know the market better.

So what is it about these interlopers, these opportunity thieves that makes them so damn lucky, so successful? What are they doing to attract what is rightly yours?

Simple stuff really... they have a strong Personal Brand. Their reputations are working for them, creating the luck, bringing the opportunities. How can you be lucky if no-one knows that you are good at what you do?

Postsecret: A Lifetime of Secrets

The 4th PostSecret book by Frank Warren, A Lifetime of Secrets, came out on the 9th October and is climbing up the Amazon bestseller charts.

If the trailer is anything to go by, this should make for compelling reading.

Order your copy here...

Perception VS spin

I am working with a company that needs an image overhaul of note. In the interests of confidentiality I shall refer to them as the 'fat-cats', which they will no doubt find amusing.

Love their new leaner more 'elegant-cat' corporate brand in which they have invested time, effort, and bundles of lovely money. The issue that they now need to address is their people - not all of them live up to the glossy images and clever words. It seems their market is not buying this makeover, doesn't trust the lick of paint... feels that they are only papering over the cracks.

So we now have the original market perception of fat-cats, fighting with the new brand image of elegant-cats, and it has resulted in what I will politely refer to as a brand incongruency, stronger still, a brand-lie. Or, in terms we are all too familiar with, we now have a typical case of perception VS spin.

Image Culture, like all culture is 'top-down'. I take my hat off to the management team for embracing this next phase of bringing it all together. Without their commitment, not only would fur surely fly, but their competitors would get to make a juicy meal of it.

Fly away...

What a week and without a regular injection of delicious travel, the world seems to get way too small... too pedestrian, too beige. What is it about the stimulation of different yet often strangely familiar, sometimes surprising juxtapositions of sights, sounds, smells that awakens my senses and fuels my soul?

Need to get on a big bird soon.

Groovy Dancing Girl

I absolutely love this!

Savvy, sexy siren...

I do love working with people in the public eye, especially those rather charming creatures who continue to be amazed by their success. They come across as an accidental tourist, stumbling into the public eye with modesty, almost childlike naivety. And we know who they are...

I met with a client yesterday who had decided that this is the Personal Brand that she wants to create. She wants to be perceived by the public in this way. The only problem is that this is not who she is. In all reality, she is a savvy, sexy siren - not an accidental tourist.

The mixed messages that she has been sending have only confused her audience. On the one hand she smolders on screen and off, and on the other, pretends that she is not aware of the effect she produces. She is attempting to balance the dynamism of her persona with a hapless naivety that doesn't exist.

Our Personal Brand or public persona is not something that we can suck out of our imagination... it needs to be authentic, real and consistent to be believed. And yes, we need to adjust how we approach different people, audiences, markets, but not so drastically as to confuse or appear confused.

So back to basics... What makes us unique? Is it the real deal? Are we consistent? Tick all the boxes and then publish, publish, publish.

Kilgour

Gentlemen, Kilgour have recently opened No. 5 Savile Row, their second space. The new store showcases Kilgour Unstructured, seasonal collections focused on a leaner, slimmer silhouette, and luggage and jeans collections - leaving the original flagship store to bespoke.

Designed by Carlo Brandelli, the new store is truly an art gallery aesthetic in a menswear environment with a modern, minimalist interior of pure limestone, against a backdrop of dark oak inlaid with mother of pearl microdots... and stingrays!

Kilgour
No. 5 Savile Row
London W1S 3PE

Frieze Art Fair

The Frieze Art Fair takes place every October in Regent's Park, London. It features over 150 of the most exciting contemporary art galleries in the world. As well as these exhibitors, the fair includes specially commissioned artists' projects and a prestigious talks programme.

Frieze Art Fair and frieze have re-launched the website frieze.com. For a limited time only to celebrate the launch, users can access the complete archive of frieze magazine – a unique research tool on contemporary art covering sixteen years – whilst continuing to stay up-to-date on the current frieze magazine content and news on Frieze Art Fair.

The new site features over 300 exclusive online-only articles every year, including regular city reports, reviews and new multimedia feeds.

To guarantee your ticket to Frieze Art Fair, book before 4 October & benefit from discounts & fast track entry. Advanced booking is highly recommended.

11 - 14 October 2007
Regent's Park
London

Opening dates and hours:
Thursday 11 October 11am - 7pm
Friday 12 October 11am - 7pm
Saturday 13 October 11am - 7pm
Sunday 14 October 11am - 6pm

Box Office and 24-hour credit card hotline:
See Tickets +44 (0)870 890 0514
Group Bookings: +44 (0)879 899 3342
Online Bookings: www.seetickets.com

Blue Velvet Lounge Boutique

Rea Shahroudi and Ayshe Matine-Daftary are doing it again. You are invited to join me for Blue Velvet Lounge Boutique's Autumn event "Glittering Bubbles" showcasing a special collection of fashion accessories & designer jewellery, hand-picked from alternative artists worldwide.

When: Wednesday 10th October 2007
Time: 5:30 to 9:30 pm
Where: The Ballroom, Beach Blanket Babylon, 45 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London W11
RSVP: Essential due to limited space http://bluevelvetevents.co.uk/rsvp

If the last event is anything to go by, this should be fabulous.

See you there...

London Fashion Weekend

Last night turned into a shopping spree of note and if you are in the mood for a bargain then London Fashion Weekend from 26 - 30 September at the Natural History Museum is a must. With over 150 designers such as Juicy Couture, Daks, Allegra Hicks, PPQ, Ben de Lisi and Paul & Joe, I came away happily staggering under the weight of my purchases.

Then on to Harvey Nichols for a more champers, nibbles and shopping with 10% of all purchases going to Dress for Success, the charity that helps women to get back to work. If you are not quite sure what to do with your old business attire, you can put it to good use and donate it enabling less privileged women to go for that interview, get that job - and begin to build a future.

Having worked up a hunger, we then popped into Zuma for their soft-shelled crab... still the best in London, and on to the Blue Bar at the Berkeley for a last flute of pink bubbly. All in all, a good girly night out...

Autumn/Winter '07

Ladies, now that we are well and truly into Autumn... all you need to know about what's hot for Winter '07.

Dresses: Think screen siren... sexy silhouette, hourglass shape, cinched waists, sharp shoulders, ladylike hems, glamorous prints, thigh-high to below the knee with the midi having made a comeback, and floor length glamour for sultry evening events.

Coats: Power coats... very chic, just about everything from military to waisted trenches, floor sweeping drama, short waisted curves and loads of fur.

Trousers: Out and out masculine... wide legged, pleat fronted, medium to high waisted, narrow and boyish.

Skirts: From bell, to bubble, to dirndl, to mini, to pencil - keep a balance by tailoring the other half.

Jackets: The Tux rules... as does the waisted, the short, the boxy, the classic.

Casual: Cashmere tracksuits, flying suits, parkas, quilted coats, padded jackets.

Knits: Extravagant and oversized... chunky cables, ruffles, ribs, waffles, cowl necks, wrap cardi-coats, outsized scarves, high-tech finishes, fur trims.

Accessories: Slim or broad belts for a cinched waist, opaque tights, exotic feathers, furs and skins, croc and exotic skin handbags, embellished clutches, beanies and berets, cuffs, zips and buttons on subtle platform boots, sky-high stilettos and sculpted form shoes, elbow high glamorous gloves or short leather.

Colour: Black on black, purple on purple, head-to-toe hues, block colour - match clothes, shoes, bags and hosiery, colour on colour in different textures.

Metalics: Lustrous anthracite and bronze, shimmering elegance, molten folds, sheeny colours, opulent outsized crystals and sequins.

Leather: Its everywhere... from soft, silky dresses to beautifully cut pliable coats and sculpted skirts.

For all the runway shows, go to STYLE.COM

Treat Her

Gentlemen, this is the perfect gift service. Treat her has a fabulous array of well thought through products and experiences for times when you're stuck for inspiration, don't have time to find something special, or really just be can't be bothered to go out... In short, they will help you stay out of trouble!

They dedicate their efforts into hunting out unusual and high quality gift ideas, and in a supreme effort to get it right, they regularly conduct surveys to find out what women would love to receive... and use this to provide the right range of gifts for you to choose from.

Selecting and sending a personalised gift could not be easier. Browse through their various online gift categories or use their gift guide to help you to find something that she will love.

Choose their gift wrap option and they will carefully pack your offering into a beautiful hand-made luxury gift box to complete the impact when your gift arrives at her door. And delivery is a doddle... choose between Emergency Delivery (same day service for London), First Class or Fast International. And if you really get it horribly wrong, they have a 14 day no-quibble return policy.

Oh, and ladies, if you spot something that you you would love to receive, you can send him an e-hint or create a wish list. Now that's what I call inspired!

No one buys vanilla...

Well, not when it comes to your Personal Brand. There is something hugely compelling about those with personality, those with quirks and beliefs and traits. And these people stand out from the crowd, we know who they are, what they do, what they stand for... what makes them unique, memorable.

I was in a consultation with a client yesterday and we were working through specialisation... it is far more effective to be known as an expert in one area than to be seen as a 'jack of all trades, master of none'. The art of building a Personal Brand is as much about attracting the type of interest, business, deals, roles that suit us - as it is in deflecting attention that we don't want.

I like to think of a Personal Brand as the cornerstone of attraction... we don't need to appeal to everyone, to all things. We need to appeal to our target market and eliminate time consuming and often costly detractions.

A word of warning... as with all brands, we need to be authentic, to deliver every time, to be consistent. So what is it that makes us unique? What is it that will act as a magnet to attract what we want, and elegantly repel the rest?

Paris Hilton

In July this year, Paris Hilton was offered $1 million dollars by The Learning Annex to teach a one-hour class on “How to Build Your Brand.” I didn't track whether the offer was accepted, but can tell you that Donald Trump was paid $1.5m for something similar in the past.

Now, like her or loathe her, Paris is a clear example of someone who has worked extremely hard to create her personal brand. And it shows that infamy too can play its part. Paris is no 'accidental tourist' when it comes to her insatiable desire to be famous. And yes, there are scores of teenage girls out there who are happy to buy her products - countered I am sure in equal, if not greater numbers of us who would not touch them with a barge pole.

And once again, this clearly demonstrates that strong Personal Brands do two things... they attract what we want and repel the rest.

Fame & Infamy

Nicola Mendelsohn, Deputy Chariman - Grey London recently hosted a CEW breakfast, the subject 'Brand Fame in Order to Survive - what is fame and why does it matter to you?' Together with her colleague, Karen Ellis, EU Creative Director Beauty, they regaled us with stories of famous women and how their 'infamy' was often the basis of their strong, robust identities.

Just so in Personal Branding... the art is to stand out, to deliver something of value, something unique, with passion, conviction and ability. And in doing so, we create a reputation, something that people can relate to - even if it is based on a sometimes less than orthodox personality.

The old adage, 'people buy people' is truly what it's all about... often warts and all. Paris Hilton, like her or loathe her, was rumoured to have recently been offered $1m to talk about how she developed her Personal Brand.

Not that I am saying that we all need infamy in order to have strong, successful Personal Brands that work for us... but it does help tremendously if we can be human enough for people to relate to us, to identify with who we are, what we stand for and what we can deliver, consistently.

I just have to share some of the fabulous quotes that Nicola and Karen used...

“HOW MANY CARES ONE LOSES WHEN ONE DECIDES NOT TO BE SOMETHING BUT TO BE SOMEONE.” Coco Chanel

“WE MUST BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GIFTED FOR SOMETHING, AND THAT THIS THING, AT WHATEVER THE COST, MUST BE ATTAINED.” Marie Curie

“THE ONLY RULE IS DON’T BE BORING AND DRESS CUTE WHEREVER YOU GO. LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BLEND IN.” Paris Hilton

“MY NEW MOTTO IS: WHEN YOU ARE THROUGH CHANGING, YOU’RE THROUGH.” Martha Stewart

"THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I HAVE TO SAY TODAY IS THAT HAIR MATTERS. THIS IS A LIFE LESSON MY FAMILY DID NOT TEACH, WELLESLEY AND YALE FAILED TO INSTILL IN ME: THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR HAIR. YOUR HAIR WILL SEND VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGES TO THOSE AROUND YOU. IT WILL TELL PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR. WHAT HOPES AND DREAMS YOU HAVE FOR THE WORLD... AND ESPECIALLY WHAT HOPES AND DREAMS YOU HAVE FOR YOUR HAIR. LIKEWISE, YOUR SHOES. BUT REALLY, MORE YOUR HAIR. SO, TO SUM UP. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR HAIR. BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE WILL." Hillary Clinton

“A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT. THAT’S WHY THEY DON’T GET WHAT THEY WANT.” Madonna

“TRUST YOURSELF. CREATE THE KIND OF SELF THAT YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO LIVE WITH ALL YOUR LIFE. MAKE THE MOST OF YOURSELF BY FANNING THE TINY, INNER SPARKS OF POSSIBILITY INTO FLAMES OF ACHIEVEMENT.” Golda Meir

British Summer

I love this - designer humour in the face of adversity! I for one am off to St Tropez... hand luggage only, no liquids, bikini's, kaftans, havaianas, platforms, lots of dresses, a hat, all my credit cards and a necessary fist-full of euro's to ease the way. Then back for a rest while I work out the next escape.

Wardrobe Malfunction

Rather fun lunch yesterday with a few friends and the subject of wardrobe malfunctions came up. Much hysterical laughter and blush inducing embarrassment even though none were as public as Janet Jackson's or as common as Britney's... a few of my favourites:

• FL in Boujis in a plunging navel revealing neckline chatting and bopping away - the dress had shifted neatly revealing one breast... needless to say, she is now a great fan of tape;
• Recent shopping with LE parading a dress on the shop floor wondering whether it would stay intact if she moved around - we suggested that she wriggle around a little, which she did. Only problem was that she had forgotten to tie the back and it ended up around her waist - shock, horror (from the sales assistant) and howling laughter from the rest of us;
• Me on the dance floor in a white wrap skirt that fastened with poppers... one spin too many and it landed up in a puddle around my ankles - the chap who I was dancing with had eyes like saucers, I think he thought it was a party trick;
• KB in a public loo with her skirt neatly tucked into her thong about to make her exit when someone piped up 'I just can't let you leave like that' (we nicknamed this kind stranger 'the saving grace';
• On my way to a meeting on a very warm and humid London summer morning (yes, we used to have them) when my body lotion melted and one of my hold up stockings started to lose its grip and slide down my leg ... I had to stop and pull it off with a flourish to the amazed expressions of fellow commuters;
• AJ swimming at the gym... she got out of the pool and made her way to the showers, removed her swimming costume and proceeded to do the hair and body washing routine, only to open her eyes and realise that she had a large audience - she was using the public shower next to the pool... someone kindly handed her a towel.

Couldn't think of many that men have apart from the old zipper / flies problem, which is just way too common to mention...

Have any of your own stories to add to these? Feel free to post a comment!

Competitive advantage

Bunch of stimulating meetings yesterday, one of them with a Mentor / Coach after my interest in Vistage, the global executive business coaching organisation. Then a follow up session with a Personal Branding client. Great to see him implementing a number of small, but powerful changes in various aspects of his day-to-day.

The key in managing your brand is to focus on what it is about you that is unique and compelling... work it out and then 'publish' it, live it, communicate it. In every possible way. And the art is in knowing how best to do this with each individual or group that has an influence on your success. This particular client has a reputation for 'doing all the work'... what others are not getting is all the strategic stuff he does. So a change in language, in format, in how he communicates that, and so his brand and the resulting opportunities will change too. The aim: 'high work ethic, strategic approach'... a first step up from 'worker bee'. His feedback... he feels that he is actively taking control of his career again, and from all accounts, enjoying it tremendously.

Sun seeker...

After a crazy week of summer extravaganza parties held in the driving rain... had a mad dash for the real thing on Friday. Crete did the trick and a couple of days lying on a lounger, reading and floating in the sea - yes, so salty one can float - feeling a little revived.

Brings up the question of body beautiful once again... the worst thing about living in the cold is that horrible moment standing in your hotel room, lilly white body, squeezing into new bikini, realising that the only hope is a tan. Yes, brown wobbly bits are somehow much more attractive than white wobbly bits. The only glow in the dark people who look attractive are of the tall, lean variety... actually, I can only think of one. Nicole Kidman perhaps? So easy to become body unconscious when you are usually clothed head to toe trying desperately to keep warm.

Thankfully got back to a session with Hayley, the Nutritional Therapist who has got me focused on health, the natural way... will just have to spend more time on a beach for the rest of it.

Personal Branding

I get so many questions about Personal Branding... usually starts with a startled expression at the phrase as if I've just mentioned an alien landing, then a slow nodding, and when the lights come on, an expression of delight. Well, usually.

And no, we are not brands, we are Louise or Peter or Margot... However, our public persona is a brand, so to speak. We can either manage it or have it managed for us. It has to be consistent to have any value, and if its not authentic, well, who will trust it?

In a branded world, Personal Branding is more than just a hot topic... We all brand ourselves and each other constantly. Each time we ask who someone else is, the response usually follows the same lines... "that's Joe Bloggs, he is a banker/lawyer/writer, interesting/dull/strange/fun guy..."

We can't avoid it. All sorts of people are fast becoming aware of the need to create and manage a consistent public persona. One that is authentic, one that works for them, one that delivers a competitive advantage.

persona, pl. personas: The role or facade that one assumes or displays in public or society; one's public image or personality, as distinguished from the inner self.

Size 0 vs love handles...

When I think of models, I don't necessarily think healthy. The two don't seem to go together somehow. Its difficult enough for us ordinary mortals struggling with those last 3-5 kgs strapped to our hips and thighs like unwanted baggage... never mind the extraordinary effort and self control it must take to be a size 0. And then I met Hayley Darby who stepped out of the modeling world four years ago to go back to university and qualify as a Nutritionist.

She, and a collection of ex-model friends are keenly aware of what it takes to be body beautiful, have clear complexions and to get those energy levels up. They are all offering complementary therapies - nutrition, acupuncture, hypnotherapy... I see so many clients who struggle with their weight, with feeling healthy - it's almost always the first thing that comes up in an Image Consultation. So I have booked myself in for a session with Hayley. The proof is in the pudding - or in my case, the love handles - got to give it a go, right?

Miller's Academy of Arts and Science

Miller's Academy was founded by Martin Miller, publisher of Millers Antique Guides, designer and owner of several hotels, and founder of an award winning drinks company. The Academy's aim is to create an inspiring, informative, relaxed environment where lecturers, members and their guests can enjoy a learning and social experience around a series of lectures and courses drawn from all areas of the arts and science. And all in an eclectic setting recalling the atmosphere of literary salons of the past.

Lecture series will cover such topics as 'Ten great philosophers', 'Investing in contemporary art' as well as one-off lectures covering subjects from 'Face transplants: the ultimate plastic surgery?', 'Witchcraft: the naked truth' to Peter Bergen on his latest book on Bin Laden. Other evening formats will range from 'Conversations with?' leading authors, artists and personalities to 'Head to head' debates.

Founding Membership closes on the 16th July, so if you are interested in combining the social with the stimulating, this is something you should not miss.

You can join online www.millersacademy.co.uk or call +44 20 7229 5103, and feel free to mention my name as your referral.

La Petite Maison

So happy, no, delighted that I won't have to go all the way to Nice for my favourite dish. La Petite Maison is now in London and I am in danger of begging for a table every time I need their Oeufs de poule au plat, râpée de truffes, or roughly translated... scrambled eggs with truffles.

Arjun Waney, owner of Zuma and Roka is behind this happy occasion and if its anything like Nice, expect to see a flow of A-listers through their doors. Sublime Mediterranean food comes from head chef Raphael Duntoye and the decor is modern european, in a relaxed, big family kind of way.

La Petite Maison
54 Brooks Mews
London W1K 4EG
+44 20 7495 4774

Interview with Ayesha Vardag, Divorce Lawyer

Ayesha Vardag is one of the top divorce lawyers in the UK, handling high profile, high net worth cases. She graduated with honours in law from Cambridge University in 1990, and as a scholar in European law from the Université Libre, Brussels in 1991. She then worked at the International Court of Justice in the Hague and at the UN in Vienna. She qualified and worked initially as a finance solicitor at Linklaters in London and Moscow, and then at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in London. Ayesha also trained as an advocate at the Inner Temple and was called to the Bar.

Ayesha moved across to Matrimonial and Family law in 1999 at Sears Tooth. She left to lecture in family law at Queen Mary’s, London, and to establish Ayesha Vardag Solicitors as an independent practice. She works primarily with high net worth / high achieving clients, drawing on her City based deal orientated negotiating skills against a background of hard hitting litigation experience, and a strategic intellectual grasp of the law. Recent work has included the major reported case of FS v JS, one of the first multi million cases since the notorious House of Lords decision last year in Miller v Miller. And this year a celebrity £30 million international divorce involving offshore trusts and a £40 million international divorce involving foreign assets.

We met at the Milestone Hotel in Kensington over delicious champagne and I asked Ayesha what ©The Power of Image meant to her. She said that “it is the immediate impression that one gets of another”, and when it comes to Personal Branding, she believes that it is a “recognisable personal statement of who you are”. She went on to say that “as people come to know your work it becomes less important, but initially, first impressions really count”. When I asked her about the Image Culture within her company, she said that she has created “a city, professional, glamorous culture… a departure from some of the dingier matrimonial lawyers of the old era when family law was seen as low rent and hadn’t become a high stakes financial field".

She seems to be naturally aware, and her offices and team are living proof. Ayesha employed a design consultant to create, in her offices overlooking the High Court, an environment that will be comfortable and familiar for her clients… “quietly opulent, with the feeling of a private home”. She wants her clients to feel that the service that she provides is “personal… bespoke” and that her office environment is “somewhere that they will feel at ease”.

When it comes to her clients’ Image, Ayesha advises them what is appropriate in the courtroom. “Men should be smart, sober, respectable, demure… not too sharp or snappy… Women should be quietly expensive, not flashy or too sexy, with no vulgar displays of wealth”.

Ayesha’s parents were the first to instil an awareness of creating a positive first impression. Her father was a politician and her mother elegant and conscious of Image. She laughingly remembers wearing a smart grey suit for her interview at Cambridge University.

Ayesha’s clients are international high net worth individuals, many of whom enjoy resident non domiciled status in the UK in its capacity as an on-shore tax haven. She describes a “feeding frenzy” in her market due to the UK’s generous rulings on divorce and says that there are a “vast number of people profiting from the conditions”. She competes with what she terms “the magic circle of long established firms” and her business has grown exponentially as her clients feel that she delivers “a more personal, proactive, thinking service with lower costs” due to the leaner organisational structure and personal service… “my clients don’t get relegated down the ranks”.

When it comes to high net worth divorce cases, “people want someone to fight on their behalf, to win… someone who is strong and confident and may look slightly intimidating to the other side”. And Ayesha plays the part. She is not only a solicitor, but originally qualified as a barrister and dresses accordingly. “Chanel suits day-to-day, and pinstripes when in court so that others take you seriously”.

God forbid I ever need her services, but if I do, this is the person who I would want to fight my corner.

Summer showers and sales

Its now official... the wettest June on record. Really disappointing and causing havoc across the UK. One comes to expect that Wimbledon will be rained off, that Glastonbury will be awash with mud, but to hear of people in dire life-threatening situations is really disturbing. And over on the Med there is an equally life-threatening heatwave. Its all very extreme.

And even though its hard to think of summery beach gear, we must - the sales are on. Most of the super brands have had their previews and are in full swing. The department stores are not far behind - here are my favourites:


NET-A-PORTER
Wednesday 27 June 2007
Harvey Nichols
Wednesday 27 June 2007
Selfridges
Thursday 28 June 2007
Harrods
Monday 2 July 2007

Mid-Life?

The sales are on... wonderful! Just happened to be on Bond Street in-between meetings and somehow managed to do incredible wallet damage in about two seconds flat. Not difficult at all. Eezy peezy... a little disconcerting seeing the autumn / winter collections creeping into the stores and we haven't even had a full taste of summer. Couldn't bring myself to look at next seasons apparel, not even out of curiosity.

Then a Personal Branding session with a magazine editor - I had to check my bags in at reception so as not to appear to be a shopaholic. One of the things that we explored was the physiology of men in their 40's. For many, the fight to get ahead, the drive, the passion to reach for the next thing, that was so strong in their 20's and 30's, is often replaced by the fight to stay where they are. Probably as much to do with circumstances... more responsibility - mortgages, school fees, university fees, lifestyle. And then the realisation that one is really at a mid point, mid life.

I take my hat off to those who stop, take a good look, work out where they are and what they want to do next.

Perception is reality...

Perception, really, truly, is reality. First impressions really, truly, are lasting impressions. I met with a rather extraordinary bunch of people this morning to discuss their organisations' Image Culture. On the one hand, we had the passion, power, commitment of a truly inspiring individual - on the other, we had feedback from the broader community who don't 'get' the value. The two are worlds apart.

Sometimes, passion, content and commitment are not sufficient. If the market that you are attempting to appeal to is not buying, then it is cause for a broad rethink, a re-alignment, an adjustment. And the way to get there is through understanding what your markets want to buy, where they perceive the value. No matter how passionate we are about things, no matter how good and worthy they truly are... unless the value is perceived, we will always be battling, rather than achieving a flow.

Whole Foods Market

Ranked this year at No. 5 in FORTUNE® "100 Best Companies to Work For", Whole Foods Market has opened in High Street Kensington, London. There has been a rather interesting response from the press, with praise and criticism closely interwoven.

I am probably at least a little biased as this three floor emporium to natural and organic food is on my doorstep. My first foray left me down £70 with not much to show for it. One needs a strict shopping list or the delight in finding the unique and unusual can leave you staggering out with heavy bags and a much lighter wallet. A wonderful assortment of dried figs, strange shaped vegetables and unpronounceable fruit - and when you get home and unpack it all, you realise that there is not a meal in sight.

Oh, one decent find... Veuve Clicquot at £24.99 a bottle. That's about 10% less than Tesco.

Men's Style...

I was chatting to a journalist last night who is writing an article about men's style and it got me thinking. The trends at the moment are so very subtle. Large pin-stripes, bright green/red/pink lining, braces, red socks are almost an anathema. Instead, the half lining, the coloured piping, the texture, the cut are just the thing.

Talking of half linings and coloured piping, which Kilgour in Savile Row do so very well, I recently went Personal Shopping with a client and we settled on a Paul Smith blazer. Apart from the very smart lining and piping, the beautiful thing was the quirky flower print on the inside pocket. My client had both of us falling about the place with laughter as he tried to find ways of casually throwing the blazer down to reveal its secrets. Over the shoulder, thrown onto a chair... he finally decided that he should wear it and keep his glasses in the pocket. That way, he could open the blazer with a flourish, revealing all, delve inside and swap glasses every now and again. If it works for him, it works for me...

The most expensive perfume in the world

Every now and again I am blown away by something so very unique and unusual that it makes me do a double-take. I am talking about a £64,000 double-take. And that's the starting price. Meet V1, the most expensive perfume in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

V1 contains 1400 of the most refined essences and rare flowers from all over the world. It took the designer Arfaq seven years to create it with renowned parfumeur Arthur Burnham. The bottle was designed by Arfaq and assembled by Pierre Dinand of the famous Ateliers Dinand, Paris. Each bottle is made of pure platinum with 18 carat gold and ruby crystal and bears the recipient’s name, individual number and hallmarks.

Rolls Royce were commissioned to make the case of precious wood which is lined in the finest Connolly hide. Each case is a result of thirty hours of craftsmanship. Graff were commissioned to produce the 18 carat yellow gold key, set with brilliant cut diamonds and rubies, which opens the box. Each key is numbered.

Only one hundred and seventy-three bottles were made. Only twenty-two remain.

If you are intrigued, inspired, interested, email baronessva@v1onenightonly.com to arrange a viewing. Oh, I almost forgot... it smells simply divine.

Personal Branding

What is it about the march of time that can send us off on a wild goose chase and cloud our very essence? Stuff I guess, so much of it. A case in point with a client this morning who has just recently been 'let go' by her company. Amazingly talented, however in danger of making another knee-jerk career decision. Sometimes its worth stepping out of the fray and and taking a long hard look at what we really enjoy doing, what comes naturally, what brings the joy. For once we find the joy, the markets seem to find us.

We focused on the markets that she is looking at working in and what these markets want to 'buy' - the days of selling rather than encouraging people to buy are long gone. When we understand that we are the brand, the very essence (Me / I), then we understand that the attributes of the brand, integrity, honesty, high work ethics, creativity, 15 years in banking... are the things that can be tweaked and better balanced for our markets. The error, if one can consider any experience an error, is pushing the attributes onto a market that has differing buying criterion. We may be able to win the deal, get the role... but not necessarily live with the consequences...

Does the shoe fit?

Had a great Image Consultation and Personal Shopping session with a client today... she is in the process of losing the 2 dress sizes that have crept up on her so I limited the shopping element... no point in spending vast sums on what will be too big in a few short months. We did hike around the shoe department and eventually settled on a pair of Fendi's. Then promptly left them behind as she informed me that she can get any shoe made for £100 in Portugal. Any shoe... way too good to ignore! Got me going on the design front and if its true, I may have to pop over and get a last made. Then a simple question of sending the design and voila! I really like this idea.

Eurotrash and all that...

The South of France... its a beautiful thing. I really must do it more often. My head finally hit the London pillow at 2:30 this morning after attempting the last delayed flight out of Nice on Easy Jet, or sleezyjet as its known. Thank you Monaco for a great weekend... all that anyone should ever need in small doses. Sun, fun, and fabulous people watching.

The Beach Club must be the best spot for fab, ever so slightly voyeuristic observation of one’s fellow man, woman and everything in-between. Having grown up in Africa, the concept of stiletto’s and bikini around the pool is a little hard to relate to...

One can almost guess where people come from by what they wear, how they wear it, the body language, how they hold their knife and fork... The eurotrash in Vilebrequin; the French with perfectly groomed hair, large brims in kitten heels; the eastern Euro’s in impossible heels and gold bikini’s - older or less travelled versions in too tight off-white lycra shorts; the English... either eurotrash or rather pale and slightly uncomfortable; the southern Euro’s in their headscarves, loads of children, tanned and comfortable; the South Americans even more so sans children and headgear, avec grand booty; the American contingent purposefully pale, gripping their cutlery, baseball caps firmly planted. And the most intriguing variety, the world travellers in their kaftans from St Trop/St Barths, the jewels a mix of Cartier and something picked up in Sardinia/Brazil, the flip-flops Italian, the hat hippy, the sunscreen La Mer or Sisley, beach bag picked up in the Billionaires Club... blackberry in hand.

Horribly broad generalisations I know. Ohmy, what the hell... hours of rather compulsive entertainment.

Cross-Culture...

Its been a week of family, lovely family. Getting any work done has been a challenge of note. I should have declared the week a holiday... hard to do when you have no one to declare it to. Not that I miss having someone to declare it to... fill out the leave form, submit it for approval, hold your breath, wait for the questions, watch the signature finally scrawl its way across the page and leave. Free. Now its just the opposite... wrestle with my conscience, do some work, debate the issue with myself, do some more work, steal a few hours, think of the balls I’ve dropped, do some more work. Realise that I’m free. Just a different way of getting there... I much prefer the latter.

Saying that, still managed to squeeze a few consultations in-between Billy Elliot (brilliant) and the London Eye. Working with a client on cross-cultural issues as he is now responsible for Europe and the Middle East - a long way from the cut and thrust of his home town, New York. And he is very NY. First impressions are so powerful and he knows that the little non-verbal things will go a long way in smoothing his path. Fortunately he’s big on EQ... I guess that’s why he’s the CEO.

The Alchemist

What a fabulous find! The Alchemist is an exclusive London based spa service providing beauty therapists, masseurs, personal trainers, make-up artists and other specialists - in the comfort of your own home.

Whether you are looking for a massage – from deep tissue to prenatal, a facial – from dermobrasion to anti-ageing, pilates, reiki, threading, a mani-pedi or a make-up artist for special occasions, this couldn’t be a better way of doing it.

To find out more or to book a pampering session of note, please call +44 20 7349 0093 or click on this link.

LJW Recruitment

Do you need a butler, chauffeur, housekeeper or nanny? Lynda Weatherhead of LJW is renowned for her expertise in bringing you the high calibre staff that you need.

Formerly of The AgenC, which was founded in 1995, Lynda specialises in Domestic and Commercial appointments. She provides key quality staff to the top echelons of society, blue chip corporations and royal households, and is affiliated to international agencies and concierge groups around the world, making her reach truly international.

Contact Lynda on +44 20 7801 0643, email: lynda@ljwrecruitment.com or click on this link.

Are you consistent?

Its June, already. Where has this year gone? Its almost summer and so much to do before we settle into what the Italians so aptly term Ferragosta. Which is great if you are not ordering Italian kitchens and bathrooms. Everything shuts down, stops working, grinds to a halt. By the time we get there, I may be doing just the same.

Had the lovely accountant around yesterday afternoon to take away vast quantities of my troubles. So love the idea of just putting all the bits into an envelope, labelling it by month and handing it all over. Wonderful stuff. And then a personal branding session with a client who, when I asked her to describe herself as brand, came up with one lovely word ‘Hermès’. What is it about this iconic brand that inspires so many? I recently helped a friend to find a branding consultancy to establish a brand for her business and when I asked her what she aspired to, she said the same thing.

The brand was founded in 1837 as a saddlery company... now Hermès is best known for leather goods, hand printed silks, jewellery, and assorted glamorous accoutrements and elite status symbols. This is a rare family run business - descendants of founder Thierry Hermès still possess 75% of the company.

So how do we capture the essence of the brand in ourselves? As with all brands, consistency is the key and a good place to start. Thereafter, integrity, quality... throw in a little mystery, exclusivity and you are on your way.

Art Watch...

If you happen to be in Europe this summer, there are four world art events that are taking place. Here's the lowdown...

Art 39 Basel
4 June - 8 June 2007
The international art show features about 300 leading art galleries from 30 countries on all continents. Art Basel is the world's premier modern and contemporary art fair.

52nd Venice Biennale
10 June - 21 November 2007
52nd International Art Exhibition, entitled Think with the Senses – Feel with the Mind. Art in the Present Tense. The international exhibition, set up in the Arsenale and in the Italian Pavilion at the Giardini presents about a hundred artists from all over the world.

Documenta
16 June – 23 September 2007
Founded in 1955, Documenta is regarded as one of the most important exhibitions of contemporary art, drawing attention from all over the world.

Istanbul Biennial
8 September - 4 November 2007
Founded in 1987, the Istanbul Biennial aims to create a meeting point in İstanbul in the field of visual arts between artists from diverse cultures and the audience. It is considered as one of the most prestigious biennials alongside Venice, Sao Paolo and Sydney.

The psychology of colour

Will the girl go to the ball? Yes... despite my lack of a suitable dress. With a theme of Cleopatra and a dress code of gold, white and turquoise I am wondering if they will refuse me entry in purple? It is the colour of royalty - although it does looks a little more grecian than egyptian...

I predict a last minute panic.

Talking of colours, I was consulting with a chap this week who is about to give the speech of his life... the one that in his words ‘will catapult me into orbit, or into an early grave’. We were discussing the right colours to wear and finally settled on the old power combination, black, white and red. I don’t know whether you have noticed, but anyone needing authority goes for this combination - just watch the politicians. Black suit, white shirt, red tie. The psychology of colour is a topic in itself... on the suit front, the paler the grey, the more approachable, the less authority... so a good colour when rallying the troops in a ‘we’re all in this together’ meeting... but don’t try to have the ‘better get your act together’ discussion in this colour, it just doesn’t hold much weight.