Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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First Impressions Get One Shot

🎥 Image, Impression, Credibilty and Trust Engineering for Client-Facing Professionals : Episode #466

Video Free Resources here: dale-carnegie.co.jp/freebundles

My Point of View: In business, credibility can be created before competence is tested. We can sell them on trusting us by engineering the first impressions we want, so let's be intentional and let's be sharp.

🎩 Classic Menswear Conventions – Know the Rule to Break the Rule

#42. Q: What’s the rule for shirts when tieless?

In summer, if the heat is driving everyone to abandon ties, then get yourself a Cooper Collar shirt made. Named for actor Gary Cooper, the collars stand high and firm and don’t let your suit collar devour them like can happen with normal business shirts. You will stand out amongst the great unwashed with their drooping collars.

👔 The 4 Vs of Executive Presence: Visual, Vocal, Verbal, Value

🎯 Who am I meeting and what impression do I want to create:

I had an online call with a Dale Carnegie colleague in Boston regarding training for his client in Japan.

Networking event for the American Chamber held at the Tokyo American Club, Azabudai

Visa extension application time at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in the back blocks of Konan

I wanted to stand out at the Chamber event, so I went for grey bird's eye, guessing correctly that most men would be in dark suits and jackets and I wanted to look professional when I was applying for my visa extension.

Suit: Custom grey bird's eye suit, double pleats, notch lapels, Barchetta breast pocket, 35mm double cuffs, flap pockets, side vents.

Shirt: Blue Ganton Sydney 1974 shirt with English Cuffs. Abbeyhorn Holme 1749 horn collars stays from Kirby Allison Dallas 2007

Tie: Shantung silk burgundy tie handmake in Italy supplied by Rampley & Co London 2014 in a Four-In-Hand knot.

Socks: Grey over the calf socks

✨ Personal Flair

Cufflinks: Mon Art Firenze 1972 cufflinks

Pocket Square: Isaia Napoli 1920 linen burgundy pocket square in a reverse puff. Stabiliser from Kuska Fabrics Kyoto 1936.

Badge: Dale Carnegie New York 1912, silver corporate badge

Pen: Mont Blanc Hamburg 1906

Card Holder: Lanvin Paris 1889

Watch: Vintage gold 3000.2.M model Gucci Firenze 1921 with a very simple black dial. The burgundy alligator strap is able to be swapped out for my black Alligator strap when I need to do so, thanks to the Jean Rousseau Paris 1954 customisation

Fragrance: Terre D'Hermes Paris 2006

👞 High Shine Shoes: The high shine shoes were TLB Mallorca 1946 burgundy Adelaide Oxfords Artista series with a Picasso last and punched toe cap French calf from the D'Annonay tannery 1838.

Intention outcomes: There is no doubt I was the best dressed man at the luncheon networking event. The suit also helped with Immigration. There were huge numbers of people there, and I was told I would have to wait two hours to submit my documents. The official looked at me, asked to see which category of visa I was after and then he put "P" on the wait slip. This stood for "priority" and I went straight to the counter, jumping the queued masses all lined up to get processed. I have no doubt that the way I was dressed made the difference.

👉 If you want Executive Presence in Tokyo, I coach leaders on Presence, Leadership, Communications, Presentations and Sales.

We have a bonus for you packed with free resources—one that’ll make you go, ‘Yep, this is exactly what I wanted.’ Head to the link now. Dale-Carnegie.co.jp/en/about/freebundles

📩 greg.story@dalecarnegie.com 🌐 dale-carnegie.co.jp 📑 Access our free 35 White Papers on leadership, sales, and executive presence in Japan: bit.ly/4nbN0pj 📘 Download our 19 Free E-books: bit.ly/42MbKMK

✍️ Dr. Greg Story – President, Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training. Author of Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, Japan Presentations Mastery, and Japan Leadership Mastery.