Envisioning Possibilities
Career
“The greatest thing is, at any moment to be willing to give up who we are in order to become all that we can be.” Max De Pree
Dress for Success
I spoke to a young person recently about their career. They are on their way up the corporate ladder—not a rising star, but climbing. We were doing a Zoom chat about work, and he was asking, “What can I do to get to the next level?” His title was impressive but not the director position he wanted.
He currently was able to work from home which he thought was to his advantage. During the zoom chat I noticed his background – a plain wall with a hanging wine rack. We chatted about it. He said he got a lot of questions about the rack so he decided not to have his face on the zoom call.
The Dress for success part came up when I asked what his boss and bosses boss wore to work. He noticed they were all wearing T- Shirts. I continued probing. Yes, they were dark without any noticeable identification.
My take – he was doing a great job, working for a fabulous company and supporting a growing family.
Here are my suggestions.
Always show your face on a zoom call. Better yet, get into the office as much as you can, you need to be seen. If necessary schedule your breaks at the same time as your boss and your bosses boss. Go to lunch at the same time – plan your encounters. Show up! Say Hello.
If you are going to be 100% Zoom – pick a very corporate background as a virtual office. Or create your own with corporate logos or blur your background. Don’t expose your private life that may be a detriment to you progress. Your boss may be a long-time AAA member, and seeing your wine rack background may not sit well.
Dress the part. – The T-shirt theme is great as long as it has the corporate logo on it. Anything else will send a message you don’t want. If you know your boss is a long time fan of a specific ball club, yes wear his team logo. Otherwise keep it simple.
Your career is more fragile than you know.
Why Every Designer Should Practice Their Speech
In design, presentation is persuasion. When you practice speaking as much as sketching, you build trust, authority, and excitement around your ideas. A polished pitch can make the difference between a “maybe” and a “let’s do it.” Remember your voice is part of your professional toolkit. Use it well, and let it sell your vision as powerfully as your designs do.
NETWORKING …. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER
Networking is more about follow-up than first impressions.
Sound as Good as You Look
Trade shows can showcase your talent and brand but shouldn’t cost you your voice.
Think Fast, Speak Smart
When someone tosses a tough question your way, your brain might go blank before your mouth opens. That’s normal—but it’s not permanent. The trick is to pause with purpose, not panic. The repeat-pause-answer method lets you buy time...
Social Savvy
Elegant events aren’t just about the wine and the lighting they’re where lasting professional connections begin. With confidence, curiosity, and a graceful goodbye, you can turn any gala or awards night into an opportunity for genuine rapport.
Sweat Palms
Swap sweaty palms for confident handshakes.
Tell Me More
A few months ago, I watched a young designer at a networking event nervously circle the coffee station. She rehearsed “So, what do you do?” at least four times before finally approaching a woman from a major firm. Five minutes later, they were laughing...
The Conversation
Because small talk isn’t small at all. It’s where big things begin.
Power of Story Telling
The Power of Storytelling in Your Presentations Make the client the hero.Your presentation isn’t just about showcasing your design genius it’s about inviting the client into their own success story. When they can see themselves living in the space you’re describing,...
With so many people working from home it’s hard to be professional. I like your ideas.
Good advice! I remember being told once, by an image consultant, decades ago, that I was dressed as if I were going to lunch with a friend, not going to work. She told me to start wearing suits, instead. And she cautioned me to always be dressier on casual Fridays than whatever the boss is wearing.
Jeanine – I had a young lady doing an internship for a design company show up in “sleepware”. I asked her how she would dress if she were the director of design. The next day she wore a suit jacket. We are what we think. Choose wisely.