First Impressions build your Personal Brand

Everyone talks about first impressions like its the only "good one" that you need to make. Sorry folks but your first impression is just the start of your personal brand.

Make every impression, first and otherwise, count towards building a strong personal brand.

Here a couple of tips for getting started.

Step One: Decide your brand. Just like you would think about what it takes to make a good first impression, think the same way for your brand. The only real difference is that a personal brand needs to be more "personable" so be sure to sprinkle your personality into you makings of your brand.

Step Two: Look for what makes you unique. Brands are powerful because they are associated with something that only you can offer. Use your brand to focus on conveying a feeling, an attitude, the essence of what you have to offer.

Step Three: Be consistent in delivering whatever message you choose. If you want brand buzz then everyone you meet needs to arrive at the same conclusion about your personal brand.

It sounds simple but its not exactly a no brainer because building a brand takes time and even longer if you forget that your first impression helps create your lasting impression and eventually, your personal brand.

Dumb Questions from the Fashion Challenged

We've all heard "there's no such thing as a dumb question but that's not true.

When it comes to fashion, there is such a thing as a dumb question. Today on twitter, the trending topic was #dumbquestions and I had to jump right in. Here is my twitter stream about some dumb fashion questions people ask along with my fashionably honest answers.

#dumbquestions re fashion Does what I wear really matter?

FASHIONABLE ANSWER: Leave the house in something f*cked up, then ask me again! If you really think it doesn't matter then you either have Bill Gates type money, live on another planet or don't want to increase your income.

#dumbquestions re fashion Does this make me look fat?

BEST FASHIONABLE ANSWER: No, when is the baby due? Oh sorry, I thought you were pregnant! Come on! You know when something makes you look fat, the problem is usually that you just want to keep it.

#dumbquestions re fashion Does this fit?

BEST FASHIONABLE ANSWER: Do you mean right now ? It probably fit when you bought it 5 years about but since then, you've gained weight ... so NO!


#dumbquestions re fashion Are pink dress shirts gay?

FASHIONABLE ANSWER: Two men sleeping together makes you gay, not a shirt. So, if you don't start off GAY... it won't make you GAY! However, if you are gay, it does have a tendency to makes you gayer.


#dumbquestions re fashion Can I wear this to work?

FASHIONABLE ANSWER: Are you a hooker? Seriously, think about the type of job you have then decide whether it's appropriate for work.


#dumbquestions re fashion Can I still wear this?

FASHIONABLE ANSWER: No and you shoulda never worn it in the first place! Really, if you have to ask, probably not and the main reason is that you'll be second guessing yourself all day.


#dumbquestions re fashion Is this shirt see through?

ANSWER: If you can see through it... so can I!


#dumbquestions re fashion Black goes with everything, right?

ANSWER: Just because you wear it a lot doesn't mean it goes with everything. So ... NO!

I hope these answers help. And if you have a question, just ask. Dumb questions accepted.

Missed Ya

Hmm, blogging isn't as easy as it looks.

I took a break to set up my website and installed a blog using my host's software - it sucked. No categories, no tags, no links and no FUN.

I also tried out a few new things in my business and on my podcast and guest what??? No fun - at least no fun for me. So I'm back to my cryptic ass blog and ya know what? I don't care, I missed ya!

One day, I'll graduate to wordpress but today ain't the day. I'll make it a New Year's resolution for 2010.

Enough about me, how are you?

I'm on the Move!

Check out my new site at askRobinWalker.com !

When Thank You ISN'T Cool

I'm baffled, when did saying "cool" become a substitute saying thank you?

Recently, I went out of my way to help a stranger, he got some great information that could help him reposition his image. He listened, took notes and asked questions. I was delighted to help and feeling really good about it. But as the conversation winded down, I was expecting a "thank you" but all I got was "cool". I felt jipped!

When did "cool" become a substitute for "thank you"? Saying the words Thank you, should never be casualized to "cool". It just sounds unappreciative.

Here's the bottom line, people are busy; busy at work, busy at home, busy pursuing their interest and developing new ones. What's important to you may only be important to YOU. There are very few times throughout the day when someone has the time to do something "extra" BUT if they do, a real heartfelt thank you applies.

If a friend, colleague or even a stranger gives you 1 minute of their life, doing something that benefits you, let them know AND say the words - Thank you!

By the way, Thank you for reading this blog post.

Cell Phone Etiquette and the Bluetooth Banana

This day and age, most of us can receive a phone call almost anywhere in the world. We can stay in constant state of being “call ready”, but do we really want to look like it? Case in point – a Bluetooth earpiece.


You’ve got to admit, there’s something strange about speaking to a person who has this banana shaped device stuck in their ear.

Aside from the obvious piece of plastic and the streaming blue light radiating from the side of their head, I’m mostly unsettled about the message it sends. Is the thought of missing a call that bothersome? Is the person in front of you unworthy of your undivided attention?

Well, that's the assumed message. So I ask, why create a self imposed communication barrier? Life is hard enough. Don’t make it harder, take the banana out of your ear.

Do your Clothes say I don't Care?

I've never heard a successful person say "clothing doesn't matter."



I’m amazed at how many people ask "does it really matter what I wear?" My first thought is "this person isn't very ambitious. My second thought is "he's making room for the next guy."

Please folks, if you're part of my inner circle, remove those words from your vocabulary. Instead, tell yourself that What you wear reflects who you are, how you feel and what you know. It goes well beyond a suit and a tie. It’s an outward statement of the inner working of your mind. It can’t be an afterthought, it should be your forethought.

Here's are the three things I'd like you to do right away.

1) Get rid of everything that is ripped, torn, broken or doesn't fit.

2) Get rid of everything that doesn't look good on you. You know what I'm talking about!

3) Decide to never leave the house in clothes that make you look like you don't care about yourself.


And remember, not paying attention to what you wear is like carry a sign that says I Don't Care! But, you really need to - if you want to stay ahead of the pack.