First and foremost, keep in mind that after you eat blood is diverted away from the brain to the stomach to aid in digestion. This makes it harder for people to think clearly, whether they realize it or not. If alcohol comes into play, this can also dull the brain (as I’m sure you already know … ). It would be wise to present your business before the bulk of your food and drinks arrive at the table and while both of your minds are still clear and alert.

Another unconscious reaction one might have over a business meal includes the location of seating. Have the other person sit with his back to a wall. Studies show that when a person sits with his back to an open space, respiration, heart rate, brainwave frequencies and blood pressure rapidly increase. Tension increases and the person may become unnerved, whether they are aware of it or not. It’s in your best interest to keep them as relaxed and open as possible.

In a sales negotiation or important discussion, you always want to be cognizant of limiting distractions. The ideal seating arrangement would have the other person with his back against a wall but with his view limited in front of him. Meaning, to get the most attention from the other person, you’ll want to seat them so they aren’t in full viewing pleasure of the rest of the restaurant or those passing by. Restaurants that are keen to strategic seating are often viewed by customers as more comfortable, having better food and instill a more memorable experience. The same applies to business meetings.

The dim lights, subtle background music and open fireplaces are not just for show. Restaurants that have mastered the art of creating a relaxing ambiance in their venue tend to garner more money out of their customer’s pockets and are aware of how relaxation techniques directly impact their revenue. Top salespeople know that their overall presentation has less to do with the words coming out of their mouth and more to do with how comfortable and open they can make the other person feel. Use these tactics as your own to achieve a favorable decision, build stronger rapport and grow a relationship with a new client.

-Shauna

Mackenzie Image Consulting

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Charleston, SC

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I want to smash a myth that you may or may not currently subscribe to-and believe me I’m doing it for your own good. Hear ye hear ye my beauty mavens- “You do not have to match your makeup to your clothes”. That’s right if you’re wearing a gorgeous turquoise sweater-there’s no need to go breaking out your turquoise eye shadow and mascara (I still have cringe worthy flashbacks of the client I had to pry the turquoise mascara away from). That gold cocktail dress is not screaming out “Wear me with gold lipstick!” That’s an old cosmetic rule that has long since been overruled!

Your makeup should be governed only by what looks best on you. If you are a stickler for rules and must have one to follow here’s one that’s simple and universal-It is perfectly acceptable to base your cosmetic canvas around the season such as: warm colors for the fall and winter, light and neutral colors for the spring and summer.
Come see me, your personal makeup guru, and I’ll guide you to the colors, professional beauty secrets and techniques that flatter you. I assure you that it’s okay to color outside of the lines!
XOXO~
Andrew
www.andrewcpetersen.com

About Andrew: As an internationally trained and renowned cosmetic artist with Trish McEvoy; Andrew Petersen’s experience level runs the gamut. He’s professionally well heeled in all print, editorial, and event cosmetic artistry. He has been featured in the New York Times, Southern Living, Southern Bride, Domino magazine, Charleston Weddings magazine, Charleston Post & Courier and Skirt magazine to name a few. The main goal of this cosmetic guru is to enhance the beauty in individuals one brush stroke at a time. He maintains that his priorities are to “help others achieve their own personal and professional success.” As Petersen sees it “beauty shines from within and makeup frames that”.

-Mackenzie Image Consulting

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Charleston, SC

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Below is a super cute tomboy look from the summer guide.  You can get the exact designer look or use it for inspiration to go find your own tomboy creation!

The site also showcases hot new accessories.  Here is a fabulous clutch from J. Crew. It will spice up your whole look. Perfect for going out on the town!

Check out all the looks in the shopping guides to help push your wardrobe to the next level.  Click below for the Summer Guide and the Fall Guide.

-Megan

Mackenzie Image Consulting

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Charleston, SC

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2. Saving cash & making cash: the name of the game in consigning Consignment stores are more popular than ever these days. They’re...

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“How we look plays a key role in how much stress we feel throughout the day. Have you ever had a bad hair day? How did that make you feel? How did you react to others? Were you nice and bubbly or short-tempered and kind of cold?

We must start out our day looking our best if we are to feel our best. We must give ourselves every advantage in life, for the world will not hold back its punches. Stressful situations are going to come at us, no matter what we do, but if we are feeling our best, they chances of them throwing us off course are a lot less likely.

So every evening plan out what you are going to wear the next day. Don’t get caught up in overwhelm and panic of not knowing what to wear. Create a morning ritual for looking your best. Shower, fix your hair, brush your teeth, and get dressed. Then before you leave the house, give yourself one more look over. This is not about creating narcissism; it’s about feeling our best on the outside so we feel our best on the inside.

This is where an image consultant can be invaluable. They find out what makes you look your best and thus feel your best. This gives you more confidence and certainty in presenting yourself to world. It’s not about making you into someone else. This about discovering, or more importantly, uncovering the greatness that is already inside of you.”

About Doctor Zipp:

For more than 20 years, Dr. Zipp has been helping people live with stress and more fulfillment. Working together with his clients, he can find out the core of what is adding stress to their life and then conditions a lifestyle that is full of much more happiness and joy and certainly a lot more stress. He draws from his own expertise of walking the path himself and multiple resources he’s gathered over the years on how to live a stressful and happy life. Dr. Zipp is available for customized consultations. Check out his website for more information and to get in touch with him. Also check him out on Facebook and Twitter where he is actively dishing out amazing tips and advice!

-Shauna

Mackenzie Image Consulting

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Finding a job you actually want to apply for is one thing. Landing it is another. Especially in this day and age when unemployment runs rampant and competition is thick.

So when you finally score the interview for a job that excites you, taking a cookie cutter approach to the interview is not going to cut it. Sure, you need to have your resume polished, your suit pressed and the answers to the expected scenario questions down pat. We also know enough to have questions prepared to ask the employer, send a thank-you note and walk into the room confidently. But beyond the basic job interview coaching, have you ever sat down to really strategize your key messages in a way that genuinely reflects your passion for wanting the job?

One of my most recent clients called me for an interviewing prep session just after scheduling a job interview with one of Charleston’s largest employers. With the basics down, it was a matter of pulling it all together so that his entire message truly reflected him, his work ethic and why he wanted the job. While working with him, there was one piece of advice that really hit home. While my interview preparation consultations are tailored from client to client, one piece of advice always remains true:

Employers want to know exactly why you want them as much as they would want you; it’s a two way street. They’re passionate about finding the perfect fit for the job … so show them the passion that drove you to apply for it. They WANT to find someone. Show them not only why they want you but why you want them.

Employers want to know what you’re bringing to the table. How past incidences, situations and work environments have all contributed to who you are now and what role you’ll take on at their company if they choose to hire you. Being able to not only provide succinct examples but provide the added touch of why it all ties into what makes the job appealing to you can take your interview to the next level.

Having perfectly practiced answers may sound good, but taking those answers to the next level is what gets you the job. What really made the difference for this particular client was helping him pinpoint the top five reasons he wanted this job and then showing him how to weave these throughout his interview.

His results? Read on:

“Shauna helped me come up with a strategy to weave my strengths and abilities and into my “example” stories. She coached me on how to make those attributes a common theme throughout the interview while tying in my reasoning for applying to the job. By the time of the interview, I was not only prepared, but relaxed.

I was told I was the second best candidate for the job out of more than 400 people. Although I didn’t get the job I interviewed for, the interview went so well that all three interviewers were convinced that I should be part of their team. They have already spread my name to other managers within the company.”

***UPDATE — Client ended up getting the job he applied for!***

Need help landing the job? Call us to set up your interview preparation consultation!

-Shauna

Mackenzie Image Consulting

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Charleston, SC

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