Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership. I speak on stages, lead corporate workshops, run a personal growth business, and manage a personal style business. I started asking myself, "what’s the common thread in all of these?" The answer I landed on was leadership.
Not leadership in the traditional sense—managing people, teams, or organizations—but leadership from a personal perspective: Are we truly leading our own lives?
What Does It Mean to Lead Your Life?
Let’s start with what leadership actually is. Leadership is the ability to influence or guide an individual or a group. Now think about where in your life you have influence—at home, in your community, at work, or within your circle of friends and family.
Do you see yourself as a leader? Do you show up as one?
Leadership isn’t just about how you guide others—it’s also about how you guide yourself. And that starts with both how you perceive yourself and how you present yourself to the world.
Your Style is a Form of Leadership
When I work with style clients, my approach is always inside-out: First, we uncover who they are and what they want to express. Then, we build their style around that.
What we wear is a powerful form of communication—not just to the people we interact with but also to ourselves.
If you’ve ever heard my Green Dress Story, you’ll know how much of an impact what I wear has on my confidence, energy, and overall experience of the day. I often hear from clients, “If I wear what I really want, my friends will make fun of me.”
My perspective? It doesn’t matter what they say. True friends will accept you. And often, their reaction isn’t about you—it’s about them encountering something unexpected. You’re communicating something different than what they’re used to, and they’ll adjust.
The important thing is that you choose how you show up. You decide what to communicate—both through your actions and your presence.
Three Questions to Reflect On
If you want to step into your own leadership and start showing up as your most authentic self, here are three key questions to ask yourself:
1️⃣ What does what I’m wearing right now communicate—to me and to others?
2️⃣ What do I want to communicate—to myself and to others?
3️⃣ Is there a gap between the two? If so, where?
When you answer these honestly, you start identifying the gap between where you are and where you want to be. And once you see the gap, the next step is asking: "What am I going to do about it?"
Three Actions to Start Leading Your Life Through Style
If you’re ready to make intentional changes, here are three simple steps to get started:
✅ Keep a style log for one week – Each day, jot down:
• What you wore
• What you were doing
• How you felt (rate from 1-10)
• If applicable, what you wish you had worn
✅ Edit your closet – Remove at least five items that no longer support what you want to communicate. If they don’t serve you, they don’t belong in your wardrobe.
✅ Change one habit – Maybe it’s choosing your outfit the night before instead of rushing in the morning. Maybe it’s pairing your clothes differently or being more intentional about where and when you shop. Small shifts can make a big difference.
Are You Ready to Lead Your Life?
Taking control of how you show up—both internally and externally—is an act of leadership. It’s about no longer letting your default style dictate how you feel but instead using your style as a tool to express who you truly are.
So, are you ready to start leading your life in a more intentional way? Start with these reflections, take small but meaningful steps, and see what shifts for you.
And if you need a little extra guidance? I’m always here to help. 💛
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