One of Marilu’s 10 Steps is GUSTO, and one of the ways she describes it is in a story about a friend and her coat.

This friend had a special weekend coming up, and she wanted to look great for it. She tried on several coats, and not one looked right on her. Finally, Marilu grabbed one of the coats, put it on, and really worked it! She wore that coat like she loved that coat! She explained to her friend that it wasn’t the coat that was the problem, it was her not working the coat that was the problem!

Marilu and the other judges will be looking for gusto during the evening gown competition. Will the contestants be working the gown? Will they show gusto and poise? Will they “own” the room as they walk the stage?

What about you? Do you “own” the room? Do you work the coat (or dress, or suit, or whatever outfit you’re wearing)?

• When you enter a room, inhale. It helps you focus mentally and emotionally, and it opens your chest, relaxes your shoulders, and makes you pause for just a second. It’s the perfect way to make an entrance without causing a disruption – and still get everyone’s attention.
• Never underestimate the power of good posture for a good impression. Check yours in a mirror. Know what good posture feels like. Set an alarm on your phone or computer for 15 or 20 minutes from now, and when it goes off, take note of how it’s changed. Set your car mirrors when you get into the car and don’t adjust them again – instead, sit up straighter when you notice you can’t see as well anymore.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 13th, 2011 at 2:46 am and is filed under Appearances and Announcements, Gusto and attitude. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.