Confident Style That Speaks for You

Here’s the sound of McDonald’s extra value meal. Sausage McMuffin with egg, hash brown, small hot coffee, and sweet golden silence. All for only $5. Price and participation may vary. Promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing. Taxes was feeling so stuck. Sitting in traffic, squeezing into a parking spot. All the squeeze in getting tax help during your lunch break. Now taxes is a Turbo Tax expert who does your taxes for you. While you go about your day getting real-time notifications about their progress and the most money back guaranteed. Now this is taxes. Into a Turbo Tax don’t miss the deadline. File by 415. People are attracted to confident people. Confidence actually very contagious. People can feel it. People can feel that who are confident will feel great about themselves because people really get attracted towards to the positivity, the confidence that optimistic people want that. Welcome to the powerful Introvert Podcast. I’m Greg Wanger. I’m here today with Jen Augh. She is an image consultant and a former design director with roots in the beauty, fashion, and tech industries. She spent seven years living in Korea and started a career at Macy’s corporate, working her way up through web design and creative leadership. Today she helps high-achieving entrepreneurs and founders show up with confidence, credibility, and style without needing to be the loudest in the room. That’s ringing any bells for you, my listeners. Yeah, she’s right on point here. Many of her clients are introverts. While she does help with outer transformations, think of the Pigmalion or Pretty Woman or Clueless transformations, depending on your cultural reference, what I really find fascinating about her work is how the outer impacts and improves the inner resources, what’s going at them between the ears. So I’m excited to get into it. Welcome to the Podcast Jen. Thanks so heavy on me today. Yeah. Well, let’s start out with your journey. We were just discussing how we people who are in fashion or a mission driven businesses often start out with trying to do work to help ourselves and then we take what we learn out into the world. So would you mind sharing your story? Absolutely. So I was a born in Korea and I moved to New York when I was a 14. And I didn’t speak English. So my whole video about how I can communicate in the environment where I did not understand people are talking to me or speak the language. But the whole video about presenting myself, so having my look actually do the talking for me. And then when I learn that helpful can be that I start helping others because they are actually start asking me that, can you help me with how I look or the shopping. And then eventually you want a very natural step for me to cap into the immediate consulting while I was still working full time at the web design for this fashion brand. And then from there I started helping more professionals and executives. And what I learned about looking dot part is actually transform how you see yourself from outside in. So when you work with my clients, I will start from your appearance. When you see yourself in a mirror that you’re looking good, I really don’t have the same much because you already know that how very you look and it really puts your confidence. So that’s where I’m focusing now that really have your looks speaks for you. So you don’t have to do so much talking because you look already, tell people how incredible you are, how capable you are. And then why they need to put the trust in you because you are the one that they really want to be part of your journey. So you started out kind of new in America, didn’t have the full command of the English and kind of a scary intimidating kind of environment. What age were you when you started to realize, oh, if I can present myself a certain way then it’s having this kind of effect. The moment actually really hard when I was working in Macy’s. My boss literally told me that one meeting we had a huge project and then I was in charge of the project and she just simply saying, do you like your dress? And then at the moment, I really didn’t realize how powerful that phrase was, do you like your dress? She already had confidence in me because I always show up looking great and I was very confident about how I did myself. So my demeanor and I felt I put it in myself already put the trust in her that I could do this. But it was a big project and then also people come to me for advice how they can actually look better. So I could give them the device and instant insight that small tweaks can make people look better and feel better about themselves. And then that’s how they actually step into their next level, that small tweak. Do you like your dress? Was it really profound alignment for me that wow, this is really powerful. It’s not a validation that I already knew but then you’re from my boss point of view. She already saw in me that I could do this because I was dressing the part. And this was in the fashion industry. I think it always carries weight, but you’re explicitly in the fashion industry and to get a compliment like that. That clearly had even more significance there. Absolutely. I see you probably see in a beauty fashion that marketing people are the best dressers. If you think they know they know that how they present themselves, you will actually impact their performance. But the people naturally attracted people that are looking good. When you look good, you feel good about yourself. So you’re standing taller. Your voice has had more weight and then you really show up at your authority in that field. You had style, you knew how to dress and you must have had a certain self confidence about that. Did you feel confident at that point? It was made before then because when I figured that out how I can prevent myself better and then when I was in even in a nice school, people already approaching me to help them to dress better. I even died there here myself because in a weird school. So I learned that it’s not just your wardrobe. You have to be head to toe transformation. It’s not just one part that you dress well but your grooming is off or you wear in wrong shoes or your belt is red and then it doesn’t really match with your whole look. All the details actually matters. That detail brings the best style for you. So I was doing that all the hands on the wall. I was very young and then I saw that as I was stepping into really crammed my letter and then people come to me asking for my advice for their career, their relationships and then their next adventure. And then that’s the first thing they want to improve. What do you find very interesting is that people thinking that look is not good. It is very superficial. Most people thinking that they don’t have much way in their success. But if you’re thinking about it, if we have important meetings or first dates or you have a special occasion, the first thing you’re thinking about what I’m going to wear. Even though you’re thinking that the look doesn’t matter so much but that’s the first thing that people are thinking about when they have important things to do. I’m glad you brought that up because that’s something that I’ve struggled within the past. Almost a love-hate relationship because there is a part of me that feels that, oh, this is superficial. This shouldn’t matter. And we all of course know that it does matter. First impressions matter. And I think where I’ve come to is that the outer is a reflection of your inner state. And if you’re intentional about how do you want to present yourself to the world or how do you want to come across, then it does matter. And maybe the inner state is more important or primary, but the outer reflection is important also. How do you feel about those things? Of course, the inner state is very important. The inner beauty, each of the major part of it, the things that we cannot x-ray people or we’re not exactly, most of us are not exactly. We can now read people’s minds what they are thinking or what they want to do with themselves. But thinking about a book cover, we often hear that a lot. Do not judge the book by the cover. What we do all the time. If we don’t like the cover, we don’t even grab the book, start reading what actually book is about. So that book cover actually attracts people, have an opportunity to tell people what that book is really about. So that’s the image you jump out, like you look, how you pretend yourself, keeping new opportunity to show who you are. If we don’t have that cover figure that out, what’s how you show up, don’t get that opportunity. Let people know who you really are and what you can do actually, what’s capable and what is your potential. In business, we talk about like a lead magnet, their opportunity, their marketing strategy. So if you’re thinking about it, you look at the actual strategy. Looking good, it’s not accident, it’s all by design. So you need to know what kind of message you want to plot there, what works for you, and then what’s your end goal by looking the best. It’s your whole strategy and then once you get that clearly, then you can get to work to make that happen. So the first thing you actually accept is that look is not superficial. Your look is actually going to attract opportunities for you without pitching or putting yourself for their vice-bores so that you don’t have to make the awkward conversation or the trying to fall. Or you can actually be in a circle where you want to be. Or step up to the next level, be objective, see level. Oh, actually your look is the first place that you need to thinking about. Accepting that the reality is that we judge each other all the time. So just be ready, be happy to be judged, be double that people want to grasp and then read what disability offers. I want to come back to that, be happy to be judged in a second here because I love that. But what you’re describing here is something that is actually, it’s kind of good news for introverts because you’re not necessarily comfortable just putting yourself out there, but can often have a lot of introverts be a hesitation and just approaching people in a way that your look is a way to ease those conversations and to actually bridge those gaps so you don’t have to do it all verbally or through your personality. Someone might come up to you and say, oh, I love your dress. Your glasses are so cool. You know, where do you get those kinds of things? And they’re also already telling people a little bit about your personality. So maybe that’s a little bit of the hook here too because I think there’s also this idea that that means I need to be something that I’m not. But style can be very authentic. It can be an expression of your personality. How do you help your clients figure out what is authentic style? That’s actually a great question. Looking good is not about being somebody else. You have to feel comfortable, you’re new skin. So the first thing that we actually talk about is what they like to do. We get to know my client in person level because your look must reflect who you are, your personality, the authenticity, the cheater. You don’t want to feel like you are in a pastor or you don’t feel like you’re accepting somebody that you are not. So that your look is actually based on your personality and your goal. So once we figure that out, then we building the signature look. Meaning that when people see something like a invention of eye glasses or the blader and they will trigger people’s memory that, oh, this one looks like a Greg. This one, Greg might like it. So it’s very powerful that when you have a signature look that will have people remember you. It’s constantly doing the pitching for you even though you are not there because it’s really great that people remember you. How many people are actually out there and then you are the one of them that they constantly like remember by seeing something reminding them. So one example that Mike line is a peg entrepreneur. He wants to do this event and he was just standing there. He just, you know, standing by the entrance. He don’t want to be the introvert that we see often in the world. So he was just standing there, but these two guys came to him saying, oh, you’re working the fashion and he’s like, no, I’m not. I have this company that doing this tag and then like, oh, yeah, but I really like your blader. So where did you get it? I thought you’re from fashion. So they talked to these two guys came up with this man, complaining. He’s a blader and they ask about, oh, you do it. So he got this, he just standing there, but this guy came and then also you have the 10 company tell us more about it. So you really act like icebreaker, even though he didn’t even try. So that’s the kind of opportunity you actually want to get it. First of all, you look going to be reminder of people constantly because we saw around the individual, they will see an item, little in the night and eyeglasses or a blader, or a tie or a bag and they will trigger people’s memory about you. And that’s just really powerful. And then when you’re still walking around or be in an event without you saying anything, people will notice you. The first of all, because you feel confident, my client probably, he just standing at the entrance looking amazing. And he knew that he just looks very good and then that makes him standing taller. And then that attracted people, people attracted to confident people, confidence actually very contagious. People can feel it, people can feel that who are confident, who feel great about themselves because it people really get attracted towards to the positivity, the confidence that they have, the optimistic people want that. That’s what I did. The whole video is very important about what we do. That’s what I really just about. You get a hold when you go to church. But then when you look good, you become your own hope and you become the own magnet, attract the people who resonate to your energy. So that’s the signature look actually going to be, especially working for you, speaking for you, pitching for you. So you don’t have to do so much or you don’t need to show up. Nice. Then make that impression consistently because the consistency, I always tell people that consistency within tension, you build a trust. If you show up great once, then they’re like, okay, maybe he has this special occasion needs to go to like a wedding. But if you show up consistently looking great, it becomes your signature. And then people trust, oh, that’s what it’s like to do like your dress. Because you show up consistently within tension, looking great. There’s a lot of good stuff on what you were just saying and the thinking about iconic looks, you have Steve Jobs, you got your turtle neck, so buddy Holly, you just think of the glasses, things like that. So letting those, oh yeah, in the hair. Yeah. It’s the book cover and it’s iconic. So it creates a very specific look and a style and helps you be remembered. So this is a great tool. If you are trying to, you notice to get your message out or come across more, you’re talking about confidence now and it does help. I mean, without doubt it helps if you’re going out to an event, when you put on something, you look, you’re like, yeah, you look good. That’s a boost of confidence. But often, there’s more to it because we have lots of thoughts. So this is only part of what you do. You’re also helping people with mindset and you’re helping them with speaking. How many more about how you help people out with mindset? So Easter from the outside, once you look good, that it boosts your confidence, that it really opens up your mind that anything is possible because you start seeing that you actually attract all that you didn’t actually think about. In my first client, he was actually nurse for decades. And he, only to a manager, it’s a big hospital so that there are just a dozen of nurses that he’ll be managing. But then the challenging he was facing the day one, if we are a manager, you don’t wear scrub anymore because you are not a nurse in a state, you’re actually managing them. So he has to find a way to dress like a manager because he just was scrubbed for like decades. So he put anything that he could have finally clad it and then he went back to work the next day and he did a trek to pull him into the office literally. And then he told him that you need to dress better. You don’t look like a manager, you just need to dress better. So he talked to his friend, which is also my friend. So I got to know him that that was the challenge he was facing. So I looked at the wardrobe, he needed some new wardrobe. So we went shopping right after. So we got a couple of pensioner, drug, trousers and issues. He went back to work the next day and then everyone complimented him. That’s how great he looked. So he boosted confidence. Now he actually owned his own health care company. That one step that he changed that how he looked and he boosted confidence actually being up to the next level that he didn’t even know that he was aged. So now he’s the CEO of the health care company and he is successful entrepreneur. So the whole mindset is actually start from how you look. Once you believe in yourself, that confidence actually starting believing in yourself, that anything is possible. So this is something that you actually feel that yourself. This is not that I would tell people that now you look good, now you feel confident, so now that you are going to have a different mindset, actually not. You actually change the inside of yourself because now you see yourself in the mirror, how great you look and then you feel more positive. You feel more optimistic. You feel more or that you can do anything. So that actually changes you in the inside once you feel great outside. There’s really a lot of science where if you are in your body, you’re taking on the position of confidence and then it actually physiologically changes what’s happening on the inside there is power poses which give you this feeling of confidence. Ancient wisdom, Buddhists of thought keep your mouth in a smile and that’s changing your chemistry and putting you in more positive frame of mind. So there’s deep wisdom in this, the exterior, changing the interior. Are you also coaching people? How much are you giving people pep talks really? It’s as if they needed. So I’m here to really like listen what they need and then guiding them so they can really reach to their next level, their potential because I believe anything is possible. And then that energy that I also give to them. So the funny thing is that like my class comes to me that like I need that energy from you. I need to hear that. So like then I literally tell him that or tell all my clients that this is what you need and you’re doing great. And then so they can really hear that it’s really important about seeing and hearing yourself. So anything actually can happen inside but then it is that it’s not easy to see it if it’s only happening in your head or only happening inside. So that’s what it is seeing and actually hearing it. Something that you can point to it is very important. So I’m more like a sound more for them. Making sure that they are going to write direction. Make sure that they actually do better so that they can really feel that I’m a one of the person that validating they are doing great work. We all need to hear that all the time. So one of these that I tell my clients that have a mirror on their desk and they have a mirror in the full size mirror in their house. Because it’s self-awareness is very important. So when they have a call with a someone, I ask them that to looking themselves in a mirror. Making sure that even though people don’t see it over the phone, they can feel it. If you smile, they feel it in your voice. If you frown, they feel their frustration. So I ask my clients to look yourself in a mirror pretending that you actually are talking to video not over the phone so that you are aware that what kind of facial expression you have. Or just that you are not on the phone or you are alone. Just take a picture when you have a stressful moment. What kind of face expression that you have so you are aware of? Because what you see in a mirror, that’s what people see. So more aware of what kind of facial expression you make. When you do it, then you can actually control how you pretend yourself. It’s not just the wardrobe, each day again, detail matters. So if you have a bare face expression, you know that what kind of facial expression you make in the Southern point during the meeting, then you can control it. So each another advice I give to your audience is that get a mirror on your desk. Aware of yourself. That’s more you know by yourself. You have a bare control and then you can be more in- It’s really good advice, I think, for those of us who since COVID have spent maybe six or eight hours a day on Zoom meetings, you know, don’t find the self-view and you know, I happen to use Google Meet-to-Lock where there’s no option to hide the self-view. So that was a really interesting training that I went through and I think a lot of us have gone through of, oh, I have to get used to this face of mine and just how it really does give you that awareness. Absolutely, absolutely. So more aware of yourself, you have a more control. I even see I turn myself when I eat alone. So I could see that what kind of face I’m making when I eat alone, because then I would know that when I have a dinner with important people or even my friends, then I’ll be more aware that what kind of face I’m making. Do I actually talk when I’m eating or how fast I eat or how slow I eat. So anything that you learn about yourself and then that’s reflecting when you actually be in the environment. So once you get used to it, it becomes like a breathing. You don’t have to think so much. You just do it. That’s how you want to become. It becomes a part of your day so you don’t have to think so much about looking up or feeling great because it’s already part of your life. And strangely, this could be even a mindfulness exercise because you have to be more mindful to have that moment-to-moment awareness of how you look and how you’re coming across. Absolutely because what you’ve seen on your, that’s what people see in your street. Absolutely. A lot of questions for you. I mean, wondering if we can do some more practical advice. I mean, you obviously have this style talent and I know other people like that. You know, I’m married to one of them who would just have always had that and it is a gift. But I don’t have that and maybe I’m not going to be the CEO and I don’t be able to afford that help. What are some things that I could do to go down this path? To be simple. So more, actually, when you try to do so much, actually, it complicate it. So you really drill down to less is more. Simple is the best way to do it. So for most of people, they only wear 20% of a wardrobe at 80% of the experience. So the best thing to do is that we move that doesn’t need from your closet. If you don’t see it, you don’t wear it. So the way you’re doing it, we move that things that you don’t need. So you streamline your looks. So you simply buy the options. More options you have, you have had to pay more to make decisions. So less decision is better. The decision fatigue is real, really. We make the decision order and there are so many decisions you want to make. So we’re moving what to wear every day and you look great. You actually start your day stress free. So if you want to start your day stress free. Simple. Simplify your wardrobe. Like today, when you go, when you take a look at your closet, remove this stuff. Anything that doesn’t fit you, anything that has a whole, anything you want to remove or leave or warm. Anything that you choose, we have this sentimental pieces that we are thinking that I will wear a deal later. No, you will not. So that needs to go away. Then anything that you wear so many clothes, because you like those items, but then you will be probably trying to replenish this. So we have those items. Anything that doesn’t fit that you haven’t worn for a while, anything you wear too much replenish it. And then anything that has a sentimental pieces, we all have that. If you cannot remove it, putting a very bottom drawer so that you don’t wear it, but you still keep it. So, both these, you will actually really help you to see that clearly. What is the access to the 20% your wardrobe? You wear it 80% of it. Then those 20% you want to double down on it. If they are those are the right wardrobe, then your wardrobe are the one that you want to keep it. One other mistake that people make is that, okay, I look good on this, but what if I do this? So, of course, they go away from it actually working for them. We all have this. Okay, what if we do this a lot of people do that? You do that when you’re in a high school. But it is a very beautiful given way. We are doing that way. We are young. But if you are in this corporate, and you are in an executive, and you are in this position, what you actually want is that we literally all down the things they are working for you. Get the system and stay in the course. So, you know that you are actually looking the best all the time. Then when you stick to it, it becomes your signature. It becomes the trigger that people remember you so that that’s how you want to start. Remove that thing so you don’t need. Simplify your word drop set 20 percent, double down on it, and then always keeping fresh. Because when we realize something, we are often and we don’t realize that, how weird it is, the pieces are. And they want to. Yeah, they wear out, right? It’s like to fade a little dead or you get a little dated. But what it sounds like, this is something anyone can do. There’s all the pieces that you’re not wearing regularly. Just really narrow it down to the things that are. And we all probably have a sense of what’s working for us or what’s not. Because we do get compliments. So we feel more comfortable. We like the way we look in that sort of thing. It sounds like your process is a refinement down to that signature look where you’re most comfortable and where you’re going to feel most confident. Absolutely. Once you have that word drop, the poor, that you could add something more personal touch, like eye glasses. Or pattern sucks. Something that you would add it, accent to your word drop that becomes your personal touch. But without the foundation, you cannot build that house. So that you need to have a strong foundation with changing your signature look. That’s great. And this is something anyone can do. That’s the kind of thing that I was looking for. So I want to go back to you are saying, enjoy being judged. Tell me more about that. So we judge each other all the kind. I mean, unconsciously or subconsciously. But that’s how we wired. We just we’re not going to change. So if the case that you want to leverage that perception. So you want to look good all the time. And then when you know that you look good, then you will enjoy the moment. You will be more out there. Because you will get compliments all the time. You’ll be enjoying the occasion. You are comfortable getting so even though you don’t do so much, people will grabbing torch to you because you look great. And then they will just compliment you. You’ll be feel more comfortable to take all the compliments. And you enjoy that occasion. That without doing any work because you look is actually going to do all the work for you. So you will be happy to be judged. Because they already know that help come with the new one without you saying all the word. They already know that you have a great potential. You’re more capable. You’re competent. So what else do you need? You all just need to enjoy the being judged. And that’s what we intuitively want. The positive judgment. But what about there’s always going to be somebody in the corner. Like do they think they are with that dress or those glasses? You know, what a big phony. So there’s that side of it too. I guess if you have that confidence that doesn’t enter in your mind. But the thing is that we don’t like everyone. It’s the same for the other one too. So that you actually just need to do the people that will like you. There’s a billion people out there. Do the billion people not going to like you all the time. So you just focus on people who like you. Who did that you look for. Who did that you look great. And then who believe in you. When you focus on those people who let you that’s all that matters. Because the what the people are, you are actually unofficial ambassador for you. They all be spreading the word that how great you are. They all be sharing that how capable you are. And then they will tell people that, oh, you need to meet this guy. You meet this is great person. Because they already believe in you. And they’re going to say, they believe that you need to know. You need to work this person. They need to get to know more of like he to work all over. So just focus on the people that will like you. If there’s people do not think that you look good or you’re confident, they just not your people. You don’t have the thinking about people who are not your people. You don’t even have enough time to thinking about the people who like you. That’s right. There’s too many people to worry about. What other advice do you have for people who are quieter? Maybe the quiet leaders who you’ve worked with? I believe that being fired is actually super power. There isn’t so many people that like we all love to talk about ourselves actually. The word that the very word that we hear, we want to hear is actually our need. We love to be called. We love to hear that someone call me our name. But then being quiet, but introvert, it gives you someone else that has a face that being heard. And then you actually listen to what people talk about it. And so you get to know about the people so that you can actually do better things for them. Become more capable. You actually the one that has the answer for people talking about because you’ve been listening. So I think that show a looking great and then give the space for the others so that they can shine. But then eventually what people remember is that who’s there all the time looking great and then be generous about sharing the space with others. So being introvert, being quiet is actually super power because there’s so many noise out there. Sometimes you need that silence. You need that stillness. You need that the quietness. So that the people can really talk to you because they know that you are the person that they can count on too. I really like that. So just to recap, bring a full circle. When you look good, when you work on the cover of the book, then you’re opening up opportunities to connect with people and creating that space to be your authentic self because then you’re there and you’re connecting with people and you’re serving people, you’re enjoying the moment. It’s all kind of a gateway to more connection, more enjoyment and just more prosperity in your life. Absolutely. And then you’ll feel great. When you feel great that you’re more positive, you’re more optimistic. Also it shows how you make others feel about you and themselves. You, we, instantly know that who actually make you feel better. The people who feel confident, they let others feel confidence too. They’re not just, oh, this is me, this is you’re only me. They actually share the light with others. But they are something that is enough about themselves and that they want to help others feel the same. I’m really glad that you’re out there with this message and helping people because they’re helping other people feel more confident and more comfortable in their lives. So if people want to find out more about you and your work, where should they go? Oh, they can reach me out, styleconsult.com so that’s where they can connect with me or they can come to my LinkedIn. My LinkedIn is my main social media. So I’m really looking forward to helping you guys shine and feel comfortable. And will meanwhile we’ll be working on our signature looks? Absolutely. Absolutely. Anyone can really build their signature looks. You just start from one object that you like or that you like to wear or like to carry. So simply simple. Build your foundation. Then define the one thing that you like. Back or a tie or stuff. Find something that makes you feel comfortable. Looking good is not about being in a cluster. It’s not about shopping somebody. It’s very easy to copy somebody because they look good. The things that we will never them will never. So just be you. And there will be you. And then people will see that within Pixity. Because we talk about this IA. We need to replace us or the IA actually bring to do what we do. But these that it is unlimited resource and limited information is out there. But these about people is that we are limited. We are not unlimited resource. Limitation is actually made premium. The limitation is actually more valuable than ever. For being new, it just cannot be replicated. Maybe people can try to replicate over your order what you do that is that you are the only one out there. Only you can do what you can do for BU. And then looking good is the environment as set. So if the people will see that, oh, wonderful you are just as you are. That’s a beautiful, nice, beautiful place to end this. Thanks so much for being on the podcast today, Jan. Thank you so much for having me. Feel your best and amplify your everyday look with Thrive Cosmetics. Go to thrivecosmetics.com slash shine26 for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. That’s thrivecosmetics. C-A-U-S-E-M-E-T-I-C-S.com slash shine26.