Girl, Get Your Nails Done

I talk with my hands.  I explain with my hands.  I literally conduct business with my hands.  It should go without saying that I can’t really have my nails looking like a dirty eight-year-old boy who BMX on the weekends. 

Or my hair for that matter.  I work out in the mornings, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to throw up sweaty stands and saunter into work like it’s nothing. 

Clothes.  Who doesn’t communicate with clothes?  That’s literally the business of style, fashion, class, taste, consumerism – what you’re putting out in the world.

In sales you are constantly in front of people, selling.  Selling the brand, selling yourself.  As much as you represent the brand you work for, you are very much representing yourself as a brand.  Your reputation, communication, follow through, intelligence, and wit.  Your business acumen and sense of drive – all these things are getting recorded and remembered by your business associates.  And the longer your skills are in the marketplace, the more of a brand you are – good or bad.  It’s about the consistency of your work and how you present yourself.

There are times when I would LOVE to be the girl with the shiny stark white hair and almond shaped gel nails. 

I’m not though.  That would require hours in salons when I would rather be in Palm Springs or on the beach with my family.  I get my hair done every three months and cut my nails short and square, with nude polish. 

I wear leggings 95% of the time.  I should – I work for a premium active/athleisure company and as Vice President of Sales, I consider it part of my job to constantly be representing the brand.  It’s what I did when I was in Action Sports and one of my requirements when making a career move – that I fully support and personally love the brand I am working for. 

Wearing leggings 95% of the time, however, does not mean I look like I am constantly working out; nor does it mean a license to be sloppy.  Booties and sweaters, layered woven tops and leather jackets, simple chains and layered bracelets. 

I realize these details can read mundane – this is not a style blog. 

However, let’s be honest.  Although this seems like a lecture on how to be an adult, it must be said.  I have seen people come to work in sweats with no makeup and greasy hair.  Multiple times.  Throughout my years (that’s with an s). 

That’s literally zero effort.  It is pretty much saying you care literally not at all.  It’s less effort than what you would put out on a blind date that your weird aunt set you up. 

Don’t do that.  Don’t not care at all.  If you don’t care at all, time to do something that you will care about.  And that should go for EVERYTHING in your life – career, school, relationship, etc.

And if you do care (and you always should) get your nails done.