Has anyone even SEEN Hillary Clinton lately? I have.
I attended an intimate dinner with Hillary the other night. I was at Table #248 – the table nearest to the kitchen, which I believe to be where they seat VIPs. The food was mediocre, the wine was really terrible, but Hillary looked fabulous! I so wished I could get her to do a short piece for the blog on just what procedures she has had done and how she managed such a speedy recovery.
The last time I saw Hillary was on TV in December. “Dear me," I thought. “Political life and Bill’s shenanigans have taken their toll." Jowls aside, she looked tired, old and, frankly…not up to the task. Imagine - judging someone with Hillary’s credentials by her looks!
The sad truth is – we do. As brilliant and educated and experienced as Hillary is (despite your political affiliations, you have to admit that she is all of those things) her appearance does influence how we feel about her ability to lead our country. She knows that, and my guess is that she has hired a very expensive image consultant to advise her on surgical procedures, makeup, hair, wardrobe, etc., etc., etc.
Hillary’s transformation has had a huge impact on my constantly vacillating opinions about appearance and its importance in our lives. There is absolutely no way around it: no one trusts an old, worn-out has-been to lead them anywhere. It’s okay to be old. It’s not okay to be tired of it all (and LOOK tired to say the least). Hillary’s looks in December said, “Man, it’s been a hard ride. I’ll do my best, but I don’t have much energy left.” Her looks today say, “I am ready to take on the challenges ahead. I’m rested. I’m energetic. I’m healthy.”
We talk about surgical procedures. We talk about hair, makeup and facial peels. And for what purpose? Vanity? Not entirely. We really do need to present the real US to the public if they are to have faith in our ability to stay current, to find answers to today’s problems, and to lead them in a direction that might help them fulfill themselves.
I don’t struggle to look good because I love to look at myself. I struggle to look good because I want to be taken seriously by everyone I deal with. I want them to know that the ME on the inside is what they see on the outside. I may be old, but I’m working hard every day to stay “in the know," current on what’s happening in the world today, and still able to make change when change is necessary.
My employees are an average of 20 years younger than me. Sometimes that intimidates me. Sometimes I feel empowered to teach them. Sometimes I wish I were at least ten years younger so they would never discount what I say because I am still living in an era that they are only vaguely familiar with. They are all good people, so I suspect my insecurities are all in my head. They probably aren’t really looking at me with pity in their eyes when I forget my best friend’s name as I relate a story, or burst into an old Herman’s Hermits song when we’re trying to come up with a slogan for a client.
I can’t change that I am stuck in a ‘70s time warp. I can’t possibly relate to another generation's music, dialogue or belief system. But I can do my very best to be a part of a larger culture than “the boomer generation." I can embrace the excitement of new music, new ideas and new fashions. And I can look like someone who might actually have a clue.
Watch for our upcoming video on Image Consulting with Kali Evans Raoul at The Image Studios.
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