Jude Gorgopa - The Fundamentals of Clout: Powerful First Impressions with Personal Style Basics.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CLOUT:

o Definition of Clout: Power and influence. The power to direct, shape, or otherwise influence things.

Dear Reader,

This seemingly elusive, mostly subliminal, and sometimes controversial quality is often envied and most always desired. Its that extra unforgettable something that can help you get you whatever you want whenever you want it. Open doors locked to most and make your life that much easier in the process. In some circles Hollywood for instancemoney and fame is enough to reward an often temporary, always automatic entrance to clout regardless of what the person with the money or the fame is actually like.

However, in real-life it is a power that can be had and used by most anyoneif you know how to get it. Clout is like your own personal elevator that can lift you from one great experience to another, smooth out the wrinkles of daily life that much quicker, and just maybe get you terrific customer service. True, long lasting clout is not about arrogance, expensive clothing, major college degrees, extreme beauty, or a big bank account, but it is most definitely about common courtesy, self-confidence, integrity, plus a strong sense of authentic self or personal style. Its all about how you present yourself to the world and how you connect with others in it. Think of people that you know or have observed that always seem perfectly put together in their own way, have a positive presence that rubs off on those around them, they attract people, and appear to drift through days with an enviable, and seemingly unshakeable, attitude of calm and grace. Pure luck? It has nothing to do with it. These people have true clout. Some are born with it while others have to create it from scratch, but everyone needs to develop it to some degree at different stages in their lives. Clout is probably the most important commodity that you could ever use in your life because with it the world could just very well be your oyster. So whats the catch? Clout does not guarantee miracles or a fairy tale life, but it can make that life a lot fuller, saner, richer, and much more satisfying. It can assist you in reaching your full potential in every area of your life by building a bridge of confidence to any situation. It can also offer strength when the inevitable unpleasant stuff happens by acting as a power-glue that can help hold things together. Change and stress is a constant, but its all about how you deal with this constant, your reaction to the action, that makes all the difference in how youll ultimately feel about it. How could you possibly know what could be so much better if youre not willing to try something different or just plain adjust your attitude about it? Change, no matter how drastic, will ultimately be a very positive action because it often forces personal issues to light that have been long overlooked or not consciously dealt with. This is what the term total image is all aboutyou from the inside outyour look, your actions, your attitude and how you deal with people and change and the stress that it engenders in every area of your life along with having a solid vision while recognizing opportunities for what they are and moving forward regardless of any fear.

During over 30 years of teaching, training, interviewing, networking and just plain associating with a huge amount of people from all different cultures, age groups, and professions, I have defined a common thread throughout of what makes success tick in these lives throughout the ups and downs of their careers, personal challenges, or just being in the moment.

There are three basic components to clout: personal style, which may or may not include the latest fashion, but rather a reflection of an individuals tastes, personality, and style factor in everything from dress to a personal work environment; attitude & presentation, including the physical and psychological aspects of image, and interpersonal skills for our highly technical, fast paced, and increasingly impersonal world. By all indicators, there seems to be a definite longing for a well-mannered, well-groomed, and quieter society, particularly by many baby boomers who have already lived through several decades of change and a variety of backlash behaviors have already started in several sectors because of this. With a boomer turning 50 every seven minutes in this country you are going to continue seeing some huge changes in marketing, advertising, and day-to-day protocol especially as individuals and groups continue to voice their intolerance to such entities as crass commercialism and financial mayhem as well as an en masse reaction to ageism. Youre already seeing it with quality of life issues and politically motivated agendas. All of these factors heavily influence everything from the fashion industry to the media to the coffee bar on the corner to your future retirement plan. Its also interesting to note that, statistically speaking in the U.S., the number of people that consider themselves happy, about 30%, has not changed in fifty years despite a tremendous growth in population and that the current trend in social behavior is toward isolation in light of the long proven fact that people are supposed to be more content and productive when connected to other people. This brilliant age of technology does have its down side after all and the cracks are beginning to show in many areas, not just at home but internationally. In consideration of this era of very rapid and significant change, this guide addressing the power of personal style, the first in a planned series of topics, has been created and written for you based on interviews with a myriad of women at every age on what aspects of total image they would like to see explored in hopes of enhancing, enlightening, motivating and, most importantly, inspiring you onward to a more fulfilling, organized and productive life. with the ability to reinvent yourself and flow with the times. Its not for everyone or your typical how to wardrobe or life-changing self-help book but more a self-adaptive how come format for real, everyday life in a very new world. Are you ready for it? More importantly, is it ready for you?

Dedicated in loving memory to my personal style guru, mentor, and very special friend, my beautiful Mother, Violet.

No portion of this book may be copied or used in any way without the express permission of the author and

Clout Etcetera, Inc. www.cloutetcetera.com

Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 9781617922138

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chapter One: Its the little Things

Chapter Two: Getting Started.

Chapter Three: Putting it All Together.

A Personal Style Compendium.

Add-ons to Refresh, Extend & Personalize.

First Impressions.

Chapter Four: Color Your World.

Chapter Five: Wear Who You Are & Where You Want To Be .

Chapter Six: Shopping 101.

Chapter Seven: Be Prepared.

Chapter Eight: A Few Fool Proof Maintenance Tips .

Chapter Nine: Underneath it All.

Chapter Ten: The Last Word on Personal Style.

AFTERWORD: A REINVENTION CHECKLIST

CHAPTER ONE: ITS THE LITTLE THINGS

If you could instantly change anything about yourself, what would it be? While nothing can be changed instantly, even though it sometimes may seem so, it often takes awhile for the emotional effects to catch up to the physical or vice versa. It may also seem that, whatever started as a slow, steady process has suddenly culminated in a flash! Making changes in any area of your life will develop just so and it will be the little or most subtle shifts that will produce the greatest amount of change over timewith the least amount of friction if other people are involved! Patience can be a very helpful tool here albeit a difficult virtue to practice. Think about it. If you eat less and exercise just a bit more, youll lose weight. If you paint a room a different color, youll get a different outlook of the space. The same goes with changing a route to and from work. Whether you walk or drive a whole new perspective may arrive with this small change along with a sense of discovery. How does this make you feel? Usually there is a feeling of inspiration or enlightenment. Even a kind of excitement can occur. Be aware and take notes. The challenge is to keep these feelings going, to create that same mood at will and to never stop discovering the newness of everything in your life; in other words, to adjust your attitude and, consequently, your perceptions. Although hope is an essential ingredient for some in creating a successful life, the ability to keep an open window on your mind and constantly reinvent your self can be even more so. I will often encourage my clients to develop a third eyeto question personal perspectives and values instead of accepting someone elses definitions as the last word. What do you think?