Business Publications

Investing in style - Letters

Black Enterprise, Nov, 2002 by Linda M. Scott

IT FELT SO GOOD FOR ME TO TURN IN MY last assignment for my evening division law school class and find myself with some free time to read what I enjoy, instead of what is required for the next class assignment. As I relaxed in my seat during the train trip to work, I took a deep sigh of relief then began to smile uncontrollably as I read the August 2002 issue of the ultimate guide to financial empowerment. BE, thank you for offering tips by the ultimate fashion critic Lloyd Boston in the Powerplay article "Adding Polish To Your Style." Boston is so right with his straight talk about competition and performance.

Nowadays, each of us must work smarter, not [just] harder. Style is one goal we can all achieve as we focus on empowerment. To project an image of being on point in one's area of specialty in the world of business is critical. I have worked in New York's financial services industry for 13 years and as market trends have changed, so has the focus on grooming. I have been behind closed doors where decisions are made and, yes, style is definitely a professional tool that is is considered in the decision-making process for getting and keeping contracts, jobs, and promotions. Adding polish to one's style must be practiced every day, otherwise the style will tarnish. One way to prevent a tarnished look is to read up on style, including the tips offered by Boston in your article.

Boston covers the sphere of style the same way your magazine addresses the need for financial empowerment: for everyone, not just the rich and famous. If we continue to lift each other up one at a time, we will continue to build not only this generation but also those of the future.

I look forward to reading in BE more articles on personal style and how it relates to empowerment.