As a society we often make things more complicated than it needs to be. I believe we do this with the concept of style. We tend to make the concept of style hard to understand for those who are just starting to become interested in fine tuning their appearance. Style is and should be simple- Style comes to us as natural as breathing does. But as easy as breathing can be sometimes, it's also beneficial for us to be intentional about how we breathe. We can discover new breathing techniques and we can practice and perfect the art of breathing. It's the same approach with style. With style you have to be intentional about how you present yourself and you also have the freedom to learn knew techniques to help enhance how you present yourself. Style is an expression of who you are and how you present yourself says a lot about you. Ultimately, what are you trying to communicate to others when you walk into a business meeting, step into the club or take a romantic interest out? How do you want people to perceive you?
I used to be the type of person who didn't care about what he wore. I mean, I was always clean, always matching, always wearing "name brand" clothes but I didn't necessarily care about what my clothes said about me. And I didn't care about people's stereotypes or assumptions. I wanted to be that young "urban" mogul who wore jeans and a t-shirt to a board meeting. And even though there is nothing wrong with that thought process, I learned that taking that route would slow down my progress within the industries that I was working in. So, I had to choose my battles wisely. I initially wanted people to judge me for who I was on the inside and not who I appeared to be. In the perfect world that makes sense. But we don't live in the perfect world.
First impressions are very important and people will judge you based off of how you look. I'm not suggesting that anyone presents themselves in any specific way. I am just encouraging you to be conscious of whether your style is helping you build bridges to establish and cultivate new relationships or whether your style is building barriers that make starting and furthering relationships very challenging.
As a King it's important that you understand that your style is one of many tools you can utilize to build your empire. When you think like a King and dress like a King it makes it a whole lot easier to perform like a King. When I was playing sports growing up, coaches would often say "you play how you dress. Keep your uniform clean and step on the court/field like you are a professional". Your style is your uniform. Some people say you should dress for the job you want. I believe you should dress according to the type of man you want to be, which is far more important than a potential job you could land.
Perfecting your style doesn't have to be a boring or stressful activity that you add to the long list of priorities. You can make it a fun and fulfilling process. Don't be afraid to experiment. There are up and coming fashion designers, boutiques, stylists, bloggers and personal shoppers that are ready and willing to help you broaden your view and understanding of style. Let your style reflect your growth and your maturity but also let it reflect the curious, passionate and playful kid within you. Take it one day at a time pat yourself on the back when you make progress. Keep growing, stay focused, and be courageous enough to do whatever it takes in order for you to execute your life's mission.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jay Julien is a Curator of Culture, servant leader, lifetime student and an advocate of Love. Jay believes that love can Counter Culture and eradicate every social ill. Jay is on a mission to build stronger families and communities by empowering Men and leading culture into a wealthy consciousness.