I hope you plan to attend the Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in Anaheim, CA, October 2004, because that is where you will meet like-minded colleagues. When you enter a room filled with long-time nutrition entrepreneur (NE) members, you will notice how professional, sophisticated and confident they look. You will want to fit in right away. Then, when media work or a spokesperson job comes along and members are asked for a recommendation, you will be foremost in their minds. Even if you don’t make it to Anaheim, attending local meetings and running your own business requires a professional look.

Three Image Must-Haves to get you the “NE look” are a:

Confident Attitude

• Walk into a room, stand up straight and look people in the eye when they talk to you.
• Show curiosity and enthusiasm. Ask questions; share your expertise.
• When you recognize someone’s name from the NE listserv, say hi and introduce yourself. It you aren’t on the listserv, sign up right away at www.nedpg.org.
• SMILE. A smile is never out-of-date and will have people welcome you.

Healthy Look

A healthy weight is a touchy subject. Unfortunately, we live in a judgmental society, in which your body weight and appearance are major considerations when being considered for media work and speaking engagements. It is a fact that body image can affect the credibility in the consumer’s eyes. A healthy weight and attitude can do wanders for your career. Try to do your best to increase your odds for new opportunities.

Sophisticated Appearance

Your outfit should match the image you want to be. Although you don’t think you should be judged by your look, you will be. Here are some tips:

Start with your over-stuffed wardrobe. Throw out all your clothes that are too small, too large, don’t match, are out-of-date or need repairs. Wash, press, dry clean, then hang or fold neatly whatever is left. Be ready to dress and run. You never know when a television station will call you at the last minute and you need to make a great first impression.

• For women, it’s time to go shopping. Buy a good suit each season in a bold color with two shirts. A jacket hides body flaws and looks good for media work, providing a latch-on place for microphone wiring.
• For men, be sure your suits look good and your shirts are well laundered and pressed.
• Be sure your shoes are polished and store them with shoehorns.
• If you like the trendy look, spend less on these items. When the look is out, throw these items away without guilt.
• Change your hairstyle if you’ve had it for longer than two years. The main tip I give is “get a cut.” Neat hair looks better for talks and on camera.
• For women, makeup is subtle. For TV work, you will need to overdo your makeup otherwise you’ll look washed out. The plus side is it washes out your wrinkles as well. Men will need some powder; no shiny faces here. If there’s a makeup artist, ask for a touch up.

May this help enhance your lifelong learning and image in the years ahead. I look forward to seeing a stylish and confident you at the future NE meetings and/or on television!

Ventures Fall 2004