One of the most popular success books of the last hundred years is a text from Napolean Hill called "Think and Grow Rich". The book came out in 1937 and has gone on to sell over 15 million copies. It's been recommended to me multiple times by both clients and friends. Recently, I finally had the pleasure of reading it.

The book is filled with ideas on how to create success in your life. One of Hill's key pieces of advice is on building a team of mentors or a "Mastermind" in which one can refine their ideas and receive inspiration.

But he didn't believe these people needed to be physically present in order to gain value from them. In fact, he argued they don't even need to be alive. He believed that a person could form his own "cabinet of invisible counselors".

He explains further....

"Long before I had ever written a line for publication or endeavored to deliver a speech in public, I followed the habit of reshaping my own character by trying to imitate the nine men whose lives and life works had been most impressive to me"

"Just before going to sleep at night, I would shut my eyes, and see, in my imagination, this group of men seated with me around my Council Table"

What struck me as interesting about this is that I regularly give clients a similar exercise in order to make sure they stay on track when developing their personal style.

When first getting into dressing well, men typically go through a lot of purchasing to try and find what they like.

They take lots of outside advice about what they should be wearing from wherever they can get it. This could be from Youtube, store associates, their partner, friends, and if their cat could talk, they'd probably be taking some advice from him too.

By doing this, these men are getting blown around aimlessly on the high seas of fashion, drifting this way and that without any true sense of direction.

This end in lots of anger, confusion, and wasted time and money.

It's just as if you were to go to a grocery store and aimlessly add items to your cart and then try to make a dish when you get home.

You need to take aim. You need direction.

Developing your own Style Counsel can help to give you that direction.

Just as Hill would run matters of business through his counsel, so should you run matters of style through your counsel.

Here's how it works. First, come up with 5-10 guys whose style you like. These guys can be friends, co-workers, celebrities, whoever. The only thing they should have in common is that you like the way they dress.

Before you make a purchase, think about the guys in your Style Counsel.

Close your eyes if needed. Go down the list of people.

Think, "Would (insert guy here) wear this? And keep going down the list, asking that same question about each member.

If you find that the majority of your Style Counsel wouldn't wear the item, put it down. The majority of your counsel should be in agreement here.

Running purchases through your Style Counsel protects you from those moments when the shiny object calls to you that would eventually end up sitting unworn in the back of your closet.

This also helps protect you from salespeople who may be tempting you by claiming a certain item would look good on you when they're trying to make a commission.

I personally have about 10-12 guys whose style I use as a reference point. Whenever I'm on the fence about whether a purchase will work for me, I run it against my Style Counsel.

I am ruthless with what I allow into my closet. My Style Counsel helps me decide if I should open the gates of the wardrobe to let something new in. I do not shop for fun, I shop for what works. And I base what works on what has worked for those in my counsel.

So pick your own Style Counsel. It doesn't matter where or how you find the members. Start with 5. They could be celebrities, friends, acquaintances, etc. They're simply people whose style you admire.

List them out in a note - I keep mine on my phone. It helps to compile photos of these folks, sort of like a vision board (which you can make if it helps you) or keep them in a folder on your computer. Have some way to reference them.

Having your own Style Counsel will do a lot for you. It will save you a ton of money in the long run on wasted purchases you end up not liking; it will help all your items pair together as they're in a congruent style; and it will minimize the closet clutter of stuff you don't wear.

So, go forth and establish your Counsel. Pick your members, get some reference for what they typically wear if you can, and then consult with them as needed.

You'll feel much more confident in your purchases from now on.

If you would like to discuss your goals, get advice, and learn how my program works, apply for a complimentary style strategy call with me here.

x Patrick