Today is a Wednesday in the office, followed by a trip into the city this afternoon for a business meeting and a seminar with my son. It is also a warm August day, but I still chose to dress this way very intentionally. For me, getting dressed well is never just about clothes. It is about setting a standard for myself and then doing my best to live up to it. A dark suit, light blue shirt, tie, black shoes, and of course a hat to finish things off. Every piece was chosen on purpose because I believe how I present myself affects how I carry myself. The truth is, if I don’t take myself seriously, how can I expect others to? That doesn’t mean being stiff or self-important. It simply means respecting the moment, respecting the people I’m meeting with, and respecting myself enough to show up prepared in every sense of the word. That is part of intentionality for me. And it is also part of optimism. I get dressed this way because I believe the day matters. I believe the meeting matters. I believe the opportunity to keep learning matters. And I believe how we show up in life matters. What makes today even more meaningful is that I’ll be spending part of it with my son. One of the things I have always believed is that more is caught than taught. He has seen this his whole life — that taking care with how I dress, how I conduct myself, and how I approach my responsibilities is simply part of who I am. And now, seeing him naturally carry himself in a similar way is a reminder that example is a powerful teacher. That encourages me. Because in the end, being intentional is not about perfection. It is about consistency. It is about standards. And it is about showing up — day after day — as the man I want to be. Wishing you all a Wonderful Wednesday!!

Paisley and gray sale suit=180 Amazon tie=10 Dillards cuflinks=15 Ebay calvin klein shirt=15 Total cost = 220

When you look at yourself in the mirror ... When you choose an item of clothing to wear in the morning ... When you choose an item of clothing to buy from a shop or an online store ... What are you hoping to achieve? Do you want to look like you fit in with what you perceive 'your type of person' to be? Do you want to stand out from others who are 'your type of person'? Do you want to look strong and dependable? Artistic and sensitive? Mature and wise? Sexy and attractive 'in that way'? What is your 'goal' beyond keeping warm and not being arrested for indecency?

I don't know about you guys, but Fall is by far my favorite season here in the Chicagoland area. You get to wear great shirts, boots, jackets and coats. I'm breaking into my Fall stuff a little early. Today I'm wearing my Timberland Pro pants, Smith Mills flannel, Hamilton Khaki King watch, and one of my pair of Asolo hiking boots. If you do any resl hiking or orienteering like I do, you owe it to yourself to try a pair of Asolo boots. They are true hikers, not your typical Merrell, Keen, or Salomon (although some of the Salomon boots are actually quite capable hikers, just not quite as hard core as the Asolo's) Wednesday is typically my last day of the week in the office as I'm generally remote on Thursday and Friday. I'll get back to my Wednesday suit days soon, too. Warner