Uploaded July 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 #498

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

#1. Q: Should lapel width match tie width?

Get the proportions well balanced, so for single breasted suits, our lapel width and tie width should be very close in size. Obviously for double breasted suits, the lapel width will be much wider so we don't apply the same rule in this case, otherwise the tie would be enormous. If you have an older tie in your wardrobe from when widths were slightly wider, this might be the time to bring it out. A narrow tie, paired with a normal lapel width, looks ridiculous so avoid narrow ties entirely. Remember, money drives the variations so go for something standard that can withstand the insanity and don’t become a fashion victim.

👔 The 4 Vs of Executive Presence:

Visual

Vocal

Verbal

Value

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

Lunch today with Christian Wolf, President of JAS Forwarding and guest #44 on my podcast Japan's Top Business Interviews.

I wanted to look very professional for my lunch with Christian.

Suit: Gianni Versace Milano 1978 Prince of Wales check suit with a subtle mauve window pane pattern, peak lapels, Barchetta breast pocket, 35mm double cuffs, flap pockets, side vents.


Shirt: Custom Winchester style blue shirt with white collar and white English Cuffs. Abbeyhorn Holme 1749 horn collars stays from Kirby Allison Dallas 2007

Tie: Shantung silk navy tie handmade in Italy for Rampley & Co London 2014 in a Four-In-Hand knot.

Socks: Grey over the calf socks

✨ Personal Flair

Cufflinks: Gianni Versace pewter Medusa design cufflinks

Pocket Square: Diroma London 1980 dark blue and white pocketsquare in a 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.

Fragrance: Halfeti Eau de Parfum Penhaligon’s London 1870

👞 High Shine Shoes: The high shine shoes were dark brown, Vergano calf, Camina Mallorca 1954, toe cap Oxfords with a swan neck design, the Rain last, JR Redenbach soles.

Intention outcomes: The contrast with suit colour, and shirt colour worked well.

👉 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.