2013-05-22T10:26:48-04:00 Julian Brass http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/index.php?author=julian-brass Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Julian Brass Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1543826 2012-05-31T09:08:07-04:00 2012-07-31T05:12:17-04:00

Julian Brass http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julian-brass/ Notable.ca have been outlining five scenarios, each of which calls for a very distinct style. These include: the workplace, after-work events, charity galas, a Saturday night out and Sunday.

At Notable.ca, we encourage an active, balanced lifestyle rich with professional success, charitable involvement, wellness and, of course, an active social life. If we work hard, we should play hard from time to time after all. With Saturday night arguably the most social night for the young professional (YP), it is only appropriate we outline the YP Saturday night style.

Dress Code
Saturday night lends itself to more experimentation and risk-taking when it comes to dress. Saturday nights are often spent far away from the work world, surrounded by friends, lovers and significant others; not bosses and co-workers. As such, typical the YP female who works in a conservative office may be unrecognizable on Saturday nights when she literally lets her hair down, rocks some bright lipstick and a figure-fitting dress. The same can be said for the typically suit-wearing YP banker in a rock and roll t-shirt and jeans. How dressed up to get on a Saturday definitely depends on the venue. However, over-dressing isn't as big of a deal on Saturday nights; after all, for all they know,, your next stop could be a fancy hotel party. If you are going to a smaller, lower key lounge, casual is appropriate but it doesn't have to mean sloppy -- save the just-rolled-out-of-bed look for the next day.

Try Not to Double Book
With the increased accessibility offered by email, social media accounts and instant messaging linked directly to our smart phones, YPs in every city are guilty of double booking or making loose plans with a variety of people on Saturday nights. Also common among urban YPs is hopping from place to place, perhaps meeting up with multiple friends in one night on a typical Saturday. Whatever the case, try not to be what we like to call "YP flakey" and simply bail or show up hours late without warning. If you are not the committal type (aka the type who waits until the 11th hour for the "best option") then let your friends know that you have tentative plans and that your presence will be a game time decision. Of course, this is never suggested (and is just plain rude), especially if the invitation if for a more formal occasion like an engagement party, wedding or more structured birthday parties.

Get Creative
Saturday nights don't have to be synonymous with a club or a bar. Take advantage of what your city has to offer and experiment with new restaurants, lounges and festivals. Our cities are rich with culture and bustling arts scenes; Saturday nights offer the opportunity to experience everything from large-scale musical theatre to local, underground theatre and intimate live music or comedy.

More Play, Less Work
Don't go out on a Saturday evening with a wallet full of business cards and expect they will be effectively received and put to use. Of course, any social situation is a potential networking opportunity (because you never know whom you are going to meet across from you at a dinner party). But if you are going to indulge in another cocktail, Saturday night, free from the sometimes-rigid expectations of the work week, is the time to do so. For many, then, work is the last thing they want to discuss. With that said, just because it is Saturday night doesn't mean the city becomes a giant free-for-all like in college. As a driven and increasingly influential YP, you must remember that you are not in university anymore and that double stacking at the bar, ripping one another's shirts off, crying, or vomiting inn the club bathroom is unacceptable.

Remember, Sunday Will Come
Though time may seem to stand still some Saturday nights, it is also important to account for Sunday in your party plans. You may in fact have gotten all your work and errands out of the way earlier that to bask in the (maybe foggy) bliss of having zero plans on Sunday, but chances are, there are things that need to get done. Being too indisposed as a result of the previous night's activities will only create more problems as you begin the week with last week's to-do list rolling over to the new week's list.

In general, at Notable, we believe that Saturday evenings are an opportunity to live, so do it!]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1447626 2012-05-02T12:38:34-04:00 2012-07-02T05:12:13-04:00

Julian Brass http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julian-brass/ Notable.ca have been outlining five scenarios, each of which calls for a very distinct style. These include: the workplace, after-work events, charity galas, a Saturday night out, and Sunday.

We encourage the active participation and attendance of charity events to our Notable.ca readers. It seems there are young professional charity events almost every week in most major cities, so this week style at charity events is our focus.



Dress Code:
The common nighttime charity events that are held at hotels, large, upscale event spaces and museums or galleries call for a distinctively evening look. Unless it is specified that it is a black tie event, typically the ladies should expect to dress up in anything from semi formal cocktail attire to evening gowns. Charity event usually involve more makeup and special occasion jewelery. The men can definitely expect to wear a suit. Depending on the nature of the event, however, there is room to play around with things like colourful ties, pocket squares, bow-ties and even shoes with a tad of character.

Easy on the Booze:
Save the tequila shots and doubles for the neighbourhood pub. Charity events are not the place to get overly intoxicated. There are a few reasons for this. For one, charity events usually bring out many of your young professional peers or older generation of workers and philanthropists that you would (and definitely should) interact with on a professional level. Also, charity events are a good place to meet potential significant others and business contacts so you want to be sure you remember your conversation.

Bring Business Cards:
Charity events by nature facilitate civilized mixing and mingling and it is therefore always wise to have a business card. Be careful, however, not to treat it as a networking event predominantly. While you may be in business mode, fellow guests may want to take the occasion to let loose and enjoy the evening, free of any industry banter. Bottom line: feel out the conversation that you're in; play it cool.

Keep it Classy:
Unless there is some sort of theme in the dress code, keep charity event attire classy. For ladies, there is a difference in the type of dress you may wear out to a club and to a charity event, especially if it involves a sit-down dinner portion. By this age you know what is and isn't appropriate in this regard -- if it is low cut, then make sure it is not too short. The guys should put a little more time into preparing for a charity event in terms of self maintenance and should not look like he rolled out of bed -- neatly groomed hair and cologne (but not half the bottle) are a must.

Be Prepared for the Potential to Spend Money:
You may see a hot silent auction item that you are dying to get your hands on or find yourself tempted by a selection of raffle prizes and want to purchase a few arm's lengths of tickets. So have your credit card handy and make sure to stop at the ATM en route. Remember: at the end of the day it's all going to a noble cause.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1419272 2012-04-15T23:57:47-04:00 2012-06-15T05:12:01-04:00

Julian Brass http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julian-brass/ Notable.ca outline five scenarios, each of which calls for a very distinct style. These include: the workplace, after-work events, charity galas, a Saturday night out, and Sunday. While everyone has their own style that makes them unique, one thing every young professional should know is how to dress appropriately given the situation. Last week, we outlined workplace style. This week, we turn our attention to the after-work networking event.




Business Attire/Business Casual
A common grievance among young professionals is that dress codes sometimes confuse them. It is a safe bet, however, to assume that most networking events call for "business attire" or "business casual wear," with room for leeway depending on your profession. For men, business attire usually means a suit, either with a tie or without. For the ladies, the most appropriate attire would be a staple day-to-night dress or pencil skirt with a blouse or anything else that is appropriate for day but can transition easily into nighttime events with the addition of a statement-making piece of jewellery or heels. Both men and women: Jazz up an otherwise conservative look by choosing blouses, dresses, ties and pocket squares that are vibrant in colour.

Know Your Audience and Fellow Event Goers
Dress to reflect the values and general vibe of the key players you plan to interact with. If it involves a potentially new account with a fresh and fashion-related company, then take a few more risks and add a little more character in terms of dress. On the other hand, if it is a more conservative group of older industry veterans then dress to reflect that. First impressions matter and whether you mean to communicate messages through your outfits yourself or not (people consciously or not), make assessments and judgments from the way you dress.

Your Business Cards Complete Your Outfit
Don't forget why you are there in the first place (it's not for the free drinks and appetizers) and remember the business cards. It always makes for an awkward moment when you've connected with a potential new client or business relationship over a cocktail and one of you fumbles for a business card that you never find. Have them easily available in business card holders or in side pockets of purses.

Be Prepared for the Last-Minute Event
Work events may spring up all the time, sometimes without warning. There is nothing worse than knowing you really should be somewhere and it just so happens it is the day you didn't do your makeup or chose a v-neck (hopefully not a deep-v) instead of a dress shirt. Ladies should keep a spare business dress and heels at the office as well as key pieces of makeup, and a guy should keep a blazer and pocket square in the office as well as a small bottle of cologne if possible. Every office should have a lint brush. Speaking of brushes ... tooth brush, perhaps?

Comfort is Key
If you are attending an event directly from work, odds are that you will be wearing the same outfit all day and for at least 12 hours. Be comfortable. Don't wear anything too restricting or those leather shoes that have yet to be broken in. Judging from the experience from our female team members, either wear flats to the event (which is guaranteed to involve the majority of time on your feet) or wear flats during the day and save the heels for the event.

I'll be back next with more style advice for young professionals courtesy of Notable.ca.

Until then ... Stay Notable,

Julian Brass
]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1399865 2012-04-06T14:02:35-04:00 2012-06-06T05:12:01-04:00

Julian Brass http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julian-brass/
You're fairly intelligent, right? So why would you stop now if you have made any attempt at realizing your vision and going after what you want? You've more than likely already struggled and pushed through some level of adversity right? You've already suffered. Why give up now?

You've already taken a pay cut.

You've already faced competition right in the eyes. You've squared off with the prospect of defeat and won the round. But the match isn't over yet.

You've stood tall and said, "I will make this happen, no matter what. And I will keep my chin up."

You've worked late. You've woken up early. You've missed parties. You've missed trips. You've missed seeing your friends for drinks. You're on the right track...

You haven't given your partner the time he/she wants. You haven't gone on dates. At times you're feeling lonely. Keep going ...

You haven't read that book you want to read. You didn't get to the gym nearly as much as you wanted to. You worked ALL weekend.

If you stopped now, that would be foolish. It would be a huge waste of all of your efforts -- don't stop.

You've suffered. In some capacity you have suffered. Why would you ever stop now? Think about it.

DON'T STOP. Don't.

Too many people start working toward their goal and whether they quit one month, three months, six months, or two years in to it, they stop. Why? One way or another, you've endured some level of pain, so why would you stop now?

See what I'm getting at?

You may as well keep going, ladies and gents. Think about it logically: you've already paid part of the price of realizing your dreams and goals, therefore you're only getting closer to them.

You've endured the hardship that those who walk the road less traveled encounter. Keep going.

The days when I work 16 hours on Notable.ca and ask myself "why?" I quickly remind myself that I've come this far; if I stopped now it would make no sense. You know what I say to myself next?

DON'T STOP.

I hope you enjoyed this week's #TheUpsideNow. I'd love to get a dialogue going with YOU and all of my readers of this column. Comment below on a time where you haven't stopped. I'd love to hear about it and so would our other readers. Feel free to follow me on twitter @JulianBrass.

Cheers ands stay notable,

Julian Brass

Founder & Publisher, Notable.ca]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1399441 2012-04-04T12:47:19-04:00 2012-06-04T05:12:02-04:00

Julian Brass http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julian-brass/ Notable.ca outline five scenarios, each of which calls for a very distinct style. These include: the workplace, after-work events, charity galas, a Saturday night out, and Sunday. While everyone has their own style that makes them unique, one thing every young professional should know is how to dress appropriately given the situation. This week we begin with workplace style.




Know Your Company and Your Client
Since the start of the dot-com craze, dressing for the office has become a little more relaxed and casual in certain professions where others remain highly conservative. Dress to reflect your job. If you are in fashion, you better be fashionable. Before you go out and splurge on a new wardrobe, carefully consider your company's dress code policy and whether it is casual, conservative, stylish or young and fresh. At the same time, it's important to be versatile. For instance, here at Notable.ca one day I may be meeting with a creative agency where everyone is dressed casually; the next day I may have a meeting with my financial institution client, where standard practice is suit and tie. So dress appropriately for your company and your client.

Organize
Keep all of your work-appropriate attire in a designated space in your closet. Not only will you save time in the morning scramble of trying to find something to wear, there will be no question in your mind as to whether or not the clothing is appropriate. By the same token, designate closet space for clothes that are not appropriate for work, like shorts, flip flops, your favourite Ts, mini skirts and sweats.

Be Appropriate
No matter the company, use your tact and be appropriate. For females, as I outlined last week, less is more. Avoid anything too low-cut, formfitting or short. If you would wear it to a club on Saturday night or to the beach, don't wear it to work, even if you add a scarf to it.

Shop Strategically
Professional attire is not something any young professional should skimp on. The quality of your clothing shows and sometimes you need to fake it until you make it. It is worth it to invest in a few key pieces that will stand the test of time and are easy to mix and match. For the ladies, spend more on things like shoes, purses and belts. For guys, you can never have enough dress shirts and your "go-to" blazer.

Dress Your Age
In terms of work dress, I see many young professionals make one of two mistakes: they dress too young (in too tight or revealing clothing for the ladies, or sloppy, frat boy-esque attire for the guys); or they dress too old for their age in an attempt to make themselves seem more "professional." Dress your age. Let your intellect reflect your wisdom and worldliness, not necessarily your attire.

Easy on the Makeup and Cologne/ Perfume
Save the makeup for the charity gala or Saturday night out on the town. The same can be said for perfume and cologne -- pick something that is lighter and more day-appropriate and don't overdo it. Just because you're so used to it that you can't smell it on yourself doesn't mean everyone else can't.

Details Matter
For guys and girls alike, maintain clean, clipped, well-groomed nails to complete your professional appearance. For most professions, keep any facial hair properly groomed. Keep your shoes clean, as dirty shoes can throw off an otherwise polished appearance. Finally, no matter how casual your clothes are, make sure they are ironed and wrinkle-free. It is usually a wise idea to keep an extra shirt in the office in case you spill something on yourself, or if a last-minute meeting comes up with Mr. or Ms. Big.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1386948 2012-03-30T12:07:22-04:00 2012-05-30T05:12:01-04:00

Julian Brass http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julian-brass/
Why not say to yourself, "Today is a new life, and I am going to make it the best!" Why not say that? Give me one reason. Or two. In this case, I think one will be challenging enough to come up with!

Learn from the past, but forget. Forget about what happened yesterday. Forget about what happened last week. Learn from it. But forget it. It already happened...

Tomorrow will come fast enough, ladies and gentlemen; it will be here at the blink of an eye. Don't worry about it. Accept that it will be here. You will live it when it arrives. Until then, live today. Live it well. Imagine just for a moment how tomorrow will be if you make the most out of today.

Just focus on today. Today is a new life. You can do what you want with it. It's nobody else's. It's yours!

So, why stress? Why worry? Why not live today to the fullest? Give it all you've got. You've got a lot more strength and power than you think you do.

How do you live this life (by that I mean today) as if it were brand new?

1. Accept that today is a new life to a wise man and that you are a wise man/woman

2. Do what you want based on your value system. Make sure that applies to everything you do today. Every choice. Every thought. Every dream. Everything else matches what your values are and what you really want out of life.

3. Go all in and be it. Don't talk about it, don't dream about it, don't just think about it. Be it.

When you close your eyes tonight and are alone with those last few thoughts before you fall asleep, how do you think it will feel to look back and say to yourself, "I lived the best life today. I did what I said I would do, I learned what I said I would learn. I loved, I gave, I earned, I shared, I lead, I contributed and I can't wait for tomorrow!"

Thanks for reading #TheUpsideNow -- feel free to follow me on Twitter @JulianBrass and to share your thoughts or questions. Also, let me know how you're living and loving your new life today.

Julian Brass

Founder and editor-in-chief, Notable.ca]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1385389 2012-03-28T14:05:31-04:00 2012-05-28T05:12:02-04:00

Julian Brass http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julian-brass/
Dress To Impress
I'll be the first to say it: "Work clothes" are not nearly as formal today as they once were. Unless you're in finance, law or accounting, the odds are that you aren't wearing a suit and tie or formal skirt to work these days. Now, ladies and gents, that doesn't mean that you should look casual like you would on Sunday brunch. Not at all. Take time to put together a stylish and sharp outfit every day. I'm not suggesting suit and tie or stilettos necessarily, but I do advise to plan it out, go shopping and always dress as if you just might meet "Mr. or Ms. Big" today. You never know, it could happen.

Less Is Not More
Whether you've got a stunner bod or not, it doesn't matter -- less is not more in the office. Less means less classy and less respectable, and that's about it. People will take you less seriously if you show everything you've got. If you want to strut your stuff, go for it. Just keep it for outside of work if you want to be invited in to that important boardroom meeting. Trust me on this one.

Know Who You Work With
Make it a priority to know everyone you work with on a first name basis. More importantly, find time to learn one thing about them, whether it be a hobby, where they're originally from, what they like about their position... anything, really! You are a person who is working towards a promotion, right? Be it superiors or subordinates, those who lead need to be well liked and respected by their co-workers. Your boss sees how you interact with others in the office; they listen and look for these signs in their staff. Learn about what sport Dave plays three nights a week and that Sarah actually moved here from Vancouver. Get to know them, stay on track, and one day the entire office will know you.

Get to Know Your Boss's Boss
Want to skip the ranks and get promoted fast? It's easy to do. Here's how: get to know your boss's boss. Develop a rapport with him or her and you will reap the benefits in a major way. Getting to know the key players is a key attribute of young professionals who are making strategic moves within their company. Go out of your way to get to know your boss's boss -- why wouldn't you?

Ladies and gents, that's how to have style and grace at the workplace. Remember, someone is going to, it may as well be you.

Cheers and stay Notable,

Julian Brass

Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Notable.ca]]>