I Should Have Listened To My Mother!

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—-Second in a three part series.  Mentor Mama gives you personal grooming advice your friends will never mention . . . even though they’d like to!

There’s a difference between “manly” and “gross”. I appreciate that ManBall* Maniacs must guard against an onslaught of pink-wearing, perfume-toting girlie girls who would otherwise have them schlepping through the mall, carrying shopping bags and having pedicures.

Mentor Mama is very sensitive to these issues and would never dream of attempting to emasculate you in such ways.   What Mentor Mama wants to discuss today is GOOD BUSINESS.

As you create your personal brand, your grooming is critical.  You are making videos, skyping, conducting webinars, and making personal appearances. Your online audience looks you over in a way that is not possible in person.  If you are thinking, “That stuff is not important,” THINK AGAIN.  You are probably the guy I am writing about.

Remember the Kennedy/Nixon Debate?  A five o’clock shadow shifted the future of a nation.  That is the power of image over content. Put your ego aside and read the Five Critical Tips below.

Master Marketer Eric Goldstein, http://www.CreateWithEric.com, understands that good grooming is good business. "I am here to challenge you… to raise your standards and start living the life that you’ve always dreamed about living." --Eric Goldstein

Critical Tip #1:   “Always Wear Clean Underwear.”

Mom’s warning seemed ridiculous at the time, but now, I know that being impeccably clean speaks volumes about who you are.

I assume that your underwear will not show up on camera.  But, there is something about being all-over squeaky clean that shines through the photo lens, allowing your audience to experience that you care for yourself.  This includes teeth.   If they are badly yellowed or stained, consider using some teeth whitener.  It is readily available in local stores.

If you value yourself, then you will be able to value your audience, as well.  That is a powerful message and it’s just good business.

Tip #2:   “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep.”

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and your first line of defense against disease and infection.  The health of your skin is improved by all of the same factors that improve the health of your other organs:

–A healthy diet, with lots of fruits and vegetables          –Exercise

–Adequate intake of water                     –Sufficient sleep

You are doing that, anyway, right? So the only thing you will need to add is:

–A quality men’s skin care routine, including daily cleansing, exfoliating, and  moisturizing with sunscreen

I know that your skin care has consisted of washing your face and body with your shampoo, but Mentor Mama wants to clue you in.

Your outer layer of skin is slightly acidic.  If you wash with harsh soaps or detergents that disrupt the PH balance of the skin, this vital organ becomes prone to bacteria and damage.  Good-quality men’s skin care products maintain the appropriate PH balance, allowing the skin to do its job and protect your inner organs.  Additionally, quality products keep the outermost layer of skin looking fresh and young.

Regardless of their age, men with healthy-looking skin appear younger and more vigorous.  Are you drawn to the guy with gray, sallow looking skin?  It’s subtle, but it makes a difference and it’s just good business.

Critical Tip #3:  “Your Fingernails Are Disgusting.”

Mentor Mama says this to her teenage son all the time.  There is nothing grosser than untrimmed, dirty nails.  It is unsanitary and ugly.  You will be using your hands in videos to display products, write on whiteboards, etc. Remember, impeccable cleanliness shines through, even if the audience doesn’t recognize it overtly.  So here is the deal:

–Trim fingernails short and scrub them daily with a nail brush. File any broken or sharp edges.

–If you bite your nails or cuticle and they look jagged, raw, or scabbed, do the best you can to break that habit.  Moisturize and treat topically.

–At least once a week, use a scrub on your hands, focusing on stained areas and dry spots.  Be sure to moisturize.  Your dry hands will thank you.

These small points add up.  Be an entrepreneur who is detail-oriented and meticulous.  It’s just good business.

Critical Tip #4:   “Brush your hair!”

Your hair, or your lack of it, is one of your most noticeable features.  You absolutely MUST have a terrific haircut.

–Wash hair daily.  Use styling products with caution.  Improperly used or used in excess, they can cause hair to look greasy, rather than styled.

–Long or short, a little or a lot, your hair must be neat with an up-to-date style.  A dated haircut suggests dated thinking.

–If you are balding or receding, a closely cropped or shaved head keeps you looking young and with it.  NO COMBOVERS!  It looks ridiculous.

–If you are middle-aged or close to it, rethink your long hair.   You look like you are trying to hold on to the past.  Who wants to partner with some middle-aged guy who thinks he’s still a hippie or a teenage surfer?

–If you are in your twenties or thirties, rethink your long hair. Unless you are very fashionable, with a fabulous hair style, long hair gives the impression that you are careless and unwilling to grow up.

Take pride in your work and take pride in yourself.  It’s just good business.

Critical Tip #5: “Sloppy on the Outside is Sloppy on the Inside”

Your face is your calling card.  You want people to remember your face for all the right reasons.  A haphazard shave or an untrimmed beard conveys sloppiness, in your appearance AND in your thinking.

Here are Mentor Mama’s no-holds barred views on men’s facial hair.

–Men don’t need to pluck or wax their eyebrows, unless they have a uni-brow.  A uni-brow gives you the impression of being angry or brooding;   not a terrific image.  Trim long, wild eyebrow hairs.

–For heaven’s sake, please deal with your nose.  What can I say about nose hair?  It’s icky, so trim it BEFORE the hairs begin to protrude.

–Ear hairs make you look like a mad scientist.  Early on, pluck any hairs that are long and wiry.  Don’t touch the fine, less visible hairs.  As your ears get really bushy, consider waxing.  This lasts longer than trimming.

–A beard must be neatly trimmed.  Even a full beard needs regular trimming and shaping.  A beard or mustache, especially a graying one, makes you look much older.  If you wear a soul patch or a stylized beard, it must be even and centered or your face will look distorted.

–The scruffy look can be incredibly hot.  (Mentor Mama is old, not blind.)  BUT, this look is neither natural nor accidental. It is the result of careful planning and grooming.   Even young men need to evaluate this look.  If your facial hair is very close to the color of your skin, the scruff can look like dirt.  Over forty?  Chances are you look grubby, not scruffy.   There is a distinct difference.

Facial hair can make or break your image.  If you are not sure which way to go, a clean shave is always a safe bet and it’s just good business.

Mentor Mama understands that there are poorly groomed men who have become successful.  This success does not override their disrespect of themselves and of other people.  Careful grooming demonstrates that you are awake, respectful of social customs and READY TO DO BUSINESS.

*ManBall is a “Men Only” international sports phenomenon, created by online marketing sensation Jonathan Budd.

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