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Pulling It All Together

I’m ready for a change. That’s the typical start of a phone call I receive from a prospective client.

Or a change in their lives has recently occurred which has spurred the need for further change. Gone are the days where people come in for a resume and say, I’m looking for a job as a Sales Manager. Please help me with a resume that makes me sound like their ideal candidate. Or I just finished nursing school and I’m moving to the east coast. Please help me put together a good solid resume to get me into such and such hospital.

Ever since I began helping clients achieve their career goals, I’ve been told that I’m much more than a career consultant and a resume writer. One of my favorite titles was “Life Consultant”. Well, you were able to get me the interview, now can you help me select a suit to wear to the meeting? Then suddenly a new career may warrant a new wardrobe. The new position requires clothing that reflects an image with more responsibility. They need to be more approachable. Maybe they need to become less approachable. All of a sudden they need a new car to “match” the new image. They work in a certain industry and their vehicle reflects their attitude or degree of success. Or just getting that raise, now certain amenities are more affordable. My involvement snowballs. The trust is stronger and things are flowing nicely.

I knew I was into new territory when the questions became even more image oriented. What kind of pen should I be writing with? What brand of watch should I wear? Are my eyeglasses outdated? How about my hairstyle. One area of image couldn’t be corrected or altered without touching on another. The feedback was wonderful. The clients saw these seemingly small changes affect their attitude and in turn affect the outcome of their business endeavors.

In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, I read that Image Consulting has now entered a new phase and of all things, it is actually called “Lifestyle Planning”. They attribute this change to the success of television programs such as “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and the copycat shows that followed. These Lifestyle Planners go so far as to get involved in every aspect from wardrobe selection to home decor to party planning and picking out the perfect car. Designers say that the fastest growing group of consumers looking for this service is people who’ve made unexpected business fortunes and don’t have the time or natural inclination to conquer the basics of “gracious living”. Their lives had changed, and so must their style. Hey! Wait a minute...this isn’t new – It’s what I’ve been doing with my business for years – it’s image consulting with a new title. And yes, indeed, that’s what marketing is all about.

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