Real Lives

Monday December 14, 2009

Celebrate your strengths with a healthy self-image

Image consultant Wendy Lee helps people enhance their self-image everyday

by Tracey Jan Francis

What does your image say about you? Does it reflect how extraordinary you are as an individual?

As women, many of us would not consider ourselves as extraordinary individuals and this has a lot to do with our confidence and image. Most women are often frustrated, unsure, overwhelmed, and sometimes have even stopped trying to find a personal style they love. Some women are ignoring, hiding, or are just plain unaware of their innate beauty.

Developing a positive self image is a must to creating a more happier and fulfilling life. No matter what your age, you deserve to feel radiant inside and out, and sometimes you need a little help to do that. With proper guidance, encouragement and help from a professional image consultant, you'll be able to enhance and bring out your confidence, well-being, joy, and find a style you love.

Image is everything

Image consultants or style gurus analyze a person's wardrobe, career and lifestyle preferences to help them make a great impression. Part style psychologist, brand specialist and etiquette coach, image consultants use a step-by-step process to help their clients feel great and be more confident about their own personal style and image.

Meet Wendy Lee, a professional image consultant and founder of Chapter One Asia Sdn Bhd. Lee's company helps men and women define and refine their image and style through wardrobe, communication, etiquette and protocol skills.

Lee is part of a handful of image consultants who have obtained international recognition. Under the mentorship of Ann Reinten of 'The Australian Image Company' and Pat Vincent Scott of 'The Colourflair Studios, UK', Wendy subsequently became one of the few internationally trained and qualified image consultants in Malaysia.

Wendy Lee

To date, the company has trained over 30,000 individuals in corporations, large and small. Apart from corporate trainings, Lee's company has successfully ventured into numerous brand enhancement and rebranding projects with MNCs, and in collaborations with luxury brands like SKII, Dior, Estee Lauder. Chapter One's sister company, Trainers Asia Sdn. Bhd. operates on a nationwide scale with their consultancy work.

Lee gives us an insight into her world in this interview:

What exactly does the term Professional Image Consultant mean?

Appearance, Behaviour, Communication - These are the "ABCs of Image." Your image is more than your appearance — so much of what you do and say contributes to the impression you make. An image consultant is a professional who provides services for individuals and corporations through coaching, presentations, seminars, and workshops.

A professional image consultant can serve in many ways, helping you become more poised and polished, guiding you to your own authentic style, and instilling the sense of success and confidence in you.

We offer assistance in image enhancement in terms of appearance, body and colour analysis, wardrobe development, and management, sound and effective communications, business and social etiquette, civility, branding, and more—all through coaching and training.

What does Chapter One have to offer?

At Chapter One, we guide you in presenting yourself to your best advantage and in bringing out your highest potential. Whether you are an individual or a business, whether you work out of your home or not, we can teach you how to polish your image in three areas:

i. Your physical appearance – Grooming, hair, makeup, colour, wardrobe, and personal shopping.

ii. Your behaviour – Social skills, stress management, etiquette, civility and protocol.

iii. Your communication skills – Body language, relationship-building and conflict resolution.

What is the best part of being an image consultant?

Image consulting is a rewarding career when you want to share your knowledge and expertise to help others excel in their personal and professional lives. Nothing is more gratifying than knowing you have touched someone's life and have made a difference that will help shape his or her future.

What about the challenges?

On a microscopic scale, the challenges lie in getting clients to understand that image building takes effort and time, but the end result can be very rewarding. We live in a fast world, where everybody seeks instant gratification. But image building involves both the external and internal self. One can make quick changes externally, but to change behaviour, attitude and habits, one needs to work on a certain time frame and set realistic goals.

On a macroscopic scale, we need Malaysians to understand the importance of portraying the appropriate image. Regardless of which industry one is in, we sell ourselves first, before any product or service. A distinctive Brand Personality is what enables the customer to single you out, what makes them remember you and what creates loyalty. While having good product knowledge and technical know-how is important, one must realize that people always buy people first.

When you're not being an image consultant, what are you up to?

Well, I suppose image consulting is already a big part of my life...so I can't really switch off at certain times and not be what I am. So, even if I'm just sitting around ‘people watching', I'd still be in my ‘image consulting' mode, constantly intrigued by why people wear what they wear and why they behave in a certain way! Other times, I'll be immersed in research, upgrading my own skillset and strategising on business expansion. But as I have two companies to run, I don't really have the luxury of time. So every day is a marathon race for me, with endless tasks and people to meet.

What's the most important thing that women should know when it comes to their personal image?

One needs to identify what their own "Personal Brand" communicates and then use the necessary tools and guidance to work backwards. For example, a lady executive working in a male dominated environment might have the need to project an image that says "Assertive, Independent, Strong". Once you have that crafted out, then you may require a professional image consultant to design your ABC's to achieve your goals, by also taking into consideration your lifestyle and budget.

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Indeed, a strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success. So ladies, here's the good news. It is there. You just need to polish it up a little more and let your inner self shine!

Wendy Lee will be a featured speaker at the Power Woman Grooming Workshop to be held on 16 December 2009. The workshop, organised by cloveTWO.com is tailored for women who want to learn more about projecting a positive image.