CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Words by Kat Byles, founder of The True Business School

Purpose can play a significant part in the success of a business. In their book Built to Last (1992) Jim Collins and Jerry Porras showed that visionary companies guided by purpose are six times more profitable than purely profit-driven rivals.

But purpose is more widespread than the business world. We are all born with a purpose. As unique as your fingerprint, it is held within your heart, your reason for being, your north star. With your purpose placed at the heart of your life you benefit from clarity of focus and direction. On the occasions self-doubt creeps in, purpose empowers you. Decisions becomeeasier as you choose the path aligned with the fulfilment of your purpose.

US actress and filmmaker Reese Witherspoon has a purpose to share women’s stories on the big screen to change the narrative of women in US culture. She founded the production company Pacific Standard, and Hello Sunshine, to share stories written by women, with a female lead, brought to the screen by women.

As Reese pitched her business venture to investors, she was informed that no one would want to watch films with a female lead, that this was not a profitable venture. She invested her own money, which she was also told was a mistake.

Reese Witherspoon’s first two film productions with female leads, Wild and Gone Girl, grossed half a billion dollars. She also produced the hugely successful TV series Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, Little Fires Everywhere, and the film from the best-selling book Where the Crawdad Sings is due for release in July 2022.

Your purpose doesn’t arrive one day ‘boom!’ fully formed, expressed, and embodied. There are recognisable stages to the growth and development of your purpose. These stages are not linear. You may experience more than one stage at a time, and some stages last longer than others. And when you become aware of the stage you are at, you have a map and can more easily participate in your purpose being fulfilled.

Here are the seven stages of purpose. Use these to create a roadmap. Which stage do you most resonate with? And which stage do you want to invest your focus, energy and attention in next? Take a look and decide where you are, and this will help you define the next steps you need to take towards your true purpose and passion.

1. Calling

You sense you have a bigger purpose than what is currently being expressed. There may be a sense of ‘something’ missing, a frustration, a sensation pulling you towards ‘something’ you can’t quite understand, it is led by a desire for more – more meaning, contribution and impact.

Simon Haas, yoga philosopher and author of The Book of Dharma and Yoga and Dark Night of the Soul shares that your purpose emerges naturally when you live your true nature.

This is echoed by Jill Ellis, former coach of the USA Women’s Soccer Team sharing the experience of opening upto her team that she was married to Betsy Stephenson, a woman. Fully supported, the US women’s team went on to campaign for equal pay for women using the World Cup as their global platform. Jill said: “When I became open in who I was, I found my purpose there.”

When you experience a calling, practice bringing more of your true nature into your life every day, and as you do, your purpose is revealed to you.

2. Receive

As you follow your true nature, you begin to receive a sense of your purpose, the more you receive the clearer it becomes.At this stage, stay curious. Don’t deny it or push it away. Embrace and begin to own your purpose.  

3. Articulate

As you embrace your purpose, articulate it in a few simple words that inspire and resonate with your heart. The simpler the better. For example, The Teen Yoga Foundation has a purpose to empower young people through yoga so that there’s a generation of kids with self-esteem, resilience and mental wellness. Maddy Cooper, co-founder of Brilliant Noise, has a purpose of protecting the earth so that families have a bright future, with sustainable marketing for brands that really mean it.

4. Align

Now your purpose is clearly articulated the next step is to align your decisions, actions, behaviours, products and services with your purpose. Let go of any aspects of your lifethat are not aligned with your purpose. This can take courage, but it is worth it.

5. Embody

As you make decisions aligned with your purpose, you shift from an intellectual understanding to your purpose becoming a tangible, living expression. The more you can appreciate the deep fulfilment, value and impact embodying your purposebrings, the more you grow.

6. Lead

As you grow in the embodiment of your true nature and purpose you are now ‘walking your talk’. There is anoticeable dedication, integrity and congruence and this inspires others. At this stage, as you communicate and share the wisdom of your experience openly and transparently, you become a recognised leader in your field.

7. Evolution

Your purpose, your north star, becomes an evolutionary force, both in your personal and business development taking you into the unknown, towards new frontiers. If you haven’t already, here you are invited to surrender more deeply, to let go of what wants to go and allow what wants to come.

If you’re starting, or just plain, a little concerned, when it comes to losing your hair, this Male grooming essential, Toppik,  is the leading hair building brand that helps you to instantly achieve the appearance of thicker, fuller hair by concealing any signs of thinning.

Toppik Hair Building Fibers are ideal for men, and women, who want to disguise the challenge of thinning hair, crowns or even patchy beards, acting as a hair thickener so you can feel confident at all times. Toppik uses keratin-derived fibers that are safe, natural and blend undetectably with your existing hair to create the appearance of naturally thicker, fuller hair and is suitable for all hair types.

Made of natural keratin protein that has strong static charge, Toppik Hair Fibers bind electrostatically to the existing hair to create volume and depth.This premium keratin is also almost identical to that found in hair, ensuring an effective blend that provides a seamless finish. Once applied, it will not move (come rain or shine) until shampooed out. Available in 5 shades, black, dark brown, medium brown, light brown and medium blonde – there is a match for everyone.

It blends undetectably with your existing hair to create the appearance of naturally thicker, fuller hair.

Their Spray Applicator is ideal for applying Fibers to smaller areas of thin or thinning hair, and is perfect for targeted areas. It also works well to disguise partings, cover up root regrowth, or blend hair extensions.

Toppik’s Hairline Optimizer is the perfect tool for styling hair and creating a natural looking hairline. The Hairline Optimizer works perfectly when used in conjunction with Toppik’s Hair Fibers and is effective in shielding your forehead from stray Hair Fibers. The irreqular teeth also allows you to shape and perfect your hairline to create your desired look, every time.

Toppik Fiberhold Spray reinforces the bond between Toppik Hair Building Fibers and your natural hair. The Hold Spray’s long lasting formula helps maintain last-all-day results, meaning no need for additional touch ups.

For precision results at temples and hairline, attach the Toppik Applicator Spray head. Use the Toppik Hairline Optimizer to shield your forehead and help create a natural looking hairline. 

First, shake Toppik Hair Fibers before use. Ensure hair is clean and freshly dried before applying Toppik. Shake on areas or thinning through sifter pot lid. To set the Fibers into place, simply pat your hair gently with a clean hand. For precision results at temples and hairline, attach the Toppik Applicator Spray head. Use the Toppik Hairline Optimiser to shield your forehead and help create a natural looking hairline. Finally, for ultimate hold use the Fiber Hold Spray and spray six inches from your hair, using over areas where the Fibers are applied. Spray 3-4 times in sharp bursts.

Glastonbury returns this week after a two-year Covid hiatus — but the total cost for music fans attending has soared to a mike-dropping £701

• Glastonbury and Roskilde are Europe’s priciest music festivals this year, costing £701 and £699 respectively
• This year’s Glastonbury faithful can expect to shell out £53 per day on food and drink alone, and £149 on travel
• Poland’s Open’er festival is a bargain in comparison – with admission, return flights and subsistence together all coming in at half the price of Glastonbury

Tickets for this year’s Worthy Farm event sold out in minutes, with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and American songstress Billie Eilish among the acts booked to perform.

But new research by the travel money specialist No1 Currency has revealed that Glastonbury is now the most expensive event of its kind in Europe for Brits to attend, taking into account ticket prices, travel and food and drink.

Glasto’s soaring costs mean it has now leap-frogged Denmark’s Roskilde (£699), which previously held the dubious distinction of being Europe’s most expensive music festival.

And though the two events are almost neck-and-neck in terms of costs, Roskilde offers eight days of music compared with Glastonbury’s five, making it better value on a per day basis.

Travelling from London to Glastonbury alone will set you back £149, and that’s assuming the trains are running at all. Nationwide rail strikes are currently due to take place on June 21, 23 and 25.

The £149 return rail fare is roughly the same price as admission to see Dua Lipa and The Killers at Poland’s three-day Open’er festival, which is the cheapest festival of its kind across the continent.

In fact, the total cost for anyone travelling to Open’er (£294) from London is less than half the amount you’d spend attending Glastonbury (£701), meaning you and a friend could rock out in Poland for less than the price of doing Glasto on your own.

While more than 200,000 people are expected to flock to this year’s Glastonbury, No1 Currency’s analysis reveals that the best combination of bands and bargains can often be found further afield.

Admission to Serbia’s four-day Exit Festival costs just £105, with headliners including Calvin Harris, James Arthur and Nick Cave. Getting there from the UK will cost you only slightly more than a train from London to Glastonbury, with return flights priced at £166.

Budget-conscious Brits might also like to consider Romania’s Electric Castle event, which will be headlined by Twenty One Pilots, Gorillaz and Deftones in July. Total costs, including return flights from the UK, come in at just £318.

Meanwhile for dance music aficionados, heading to Belgium’s Tomorrowland festival to see Afrojack and Jamie Jones will cost UK ravers £514, around £200 less than going to Glastonbury. Moreover, Tomorrowland has expanded from two weekends to three, meaning music fans can catch their favourite acts on either 15–17 July, 22–24 July, or 29–31 July.

News of Glasto’s unwanted accolade as Europe’s most expensive festival will raise questions over whether the spirit of the original event has been overtaken by commercialism.

Ironically, Glasto creator Michael Eavis launched the event in the 1970s when it was briefly known as the ‘Glastonbury Free Festival’ with campers handed out complimentary milk.

The following table shows the breakdown of costs for the top festivals in Europe and the rest of the world this summer:

Source: No1 Currency

Simon Phillips, Managing Director at No1 Currency, commented: “Glastonbury may be the most legendary music festival on earth, but it’s far from the best value for money.

“With Covid restrictions now safely behind us, you can jump on a budget airline to a European festival and catch the best live acts on the circuit for under half what you’d pay to wade through the fabled Glastonbury mud.

“If you are heading overseas to get your live music fix, remember that outside the UK cashless payments are not accepted everywhere. Cash is still very much king in much of Europe, so make sure you take some local currency with you to pay for taxi fares and festival essentials.

“The queues at festival cash machines tend to be even longer than the queues for the loos, so it makes sense to buy your foreign currency before you leave. This also gives you the chance to shop around for the best deal, helping your Pounds go further, and you’ll avoid the terrible exchange rates typically offered at airport bureaux de change.”

According to a new survey which has polled father-in-laws to find out how long it takes for them to approve of their son-in-law!

• The study reveals it takes father-in-laws 3 months to approve their son-in-law
• Almost one in five said they would tell their child if they didn’t approve of their partner
• Showing respect for the family is the best way to win over your partner’s dad

We’ve all been there – the sweaty palms and excited butterflies that inevitably come when you meet your partner’s parents for the first time.

A new survey1, conducted by greetings card marketplace, thortful.com, has looked to reveal the time it takes father-in-laws to approve of their son/daughter’s partner, revealing that the average amount of time is 3 months. The study quizzed 1,000 father-in-laws across the UK on how long it takes for them to approve of their son-in-law, as well as the attributes that are most important to them.

How long does it take father-in-laws to realise you are a good fit for their son/daughter? 

It was found that a quarter of father-in-laws (25%) said they actually approved of their son/daughter partner from the first moment they met them, with just less than one in 10 (9%) taking 7 months or longer to approve.

The survey also went on to reveal that almost two-fifths (37%) said that they are happy with who their son/daughter is in a relationship with. More than one in 10 (11%) went on to say that they don’t believe their son/daughter needs their dad’s approval on their partners, with it completely being their choice.

On the other hand, almost one in five (19%) said they would tell their child if they didn’t like their partner, and 16% said they have actually told their child in the past if they haven’t approved of who they are with.

The top ways to win over your father-in-law:

When asked about the most important things that their child’s partners should do to get their seal of approval, the most popular attributes were:

• Show respect to my family (24%)
• To be family orientated (24%)
• Take the time to build a relationship with me (18%)
• Be there during tough times (17%)
• Show desire to learn more about my child (15%)

Looking at some of the other important factors, 8% said that their potential son-in-law should laugh at their jokes, spend lots of money on their child (8%) and go to the pub with them (7%).

What you should avoid doing in front of your father-in-law:

When asked when their childs partner/spouse should avoid doing in order to the get their seal of approval, the top answers from the dads surveyed were:

• Being disrespectful (26%)
• Have a bad attitude (22%)
• Being fake-nice (19%)
• Forgetting manners (15%)
• Being a know-it-all (14%)
• Not speaking to our family (14%)

Some of the other attributes that are best avoided were, getting drunk (13%), swearing in front of them (13%), and having sex in the family home (10%).

More information on the study can be found here: https://www.thortful.com/blog/dads-approval/ 

As the world gets back to normal post-COVID regulations, we can finally look forward to beach holidays and big nights out when summer rolls around, all the while dreaming of obtaining that perfect golden tan.

Tanning isn’t just for the girls – over a quarter of British men aged 16–24 have already tried self-tanning, so you’re in great company. Whether you’re looking to get beach ready or to give yourself an added confidence boost, a self-tan may be the best way forward.

To get a gorgeous golden glow safely, using a self-tan is essential because you’ll be able to achieve all-over coverage without the health risks of traditional tanning.

If you’re new to the world of self-tanning, we’re here to help. We’ve put together this fool-proof guide to help you get the best bronze possible from your bottle. Follow our step-by-step guide to achieve that even, golden glow.

Moisturise: get into the habit early

For the smoothest tan application, it’s best to moisturise regularly in the build-up to your tanning session. That goes for your face and your body – but it’s best to use separate products for each. Facial moisturisers are formulated to address your specific skin concerns, like oiliness or acne, while body lotions tend to be a bit too heavy for the face and can make you break out.

We recommend moisturising your face twice a day, every day, after you wash it. For your body, apply a body lotion all over every day after you’ve showered or bathed.

Trim: 24 hours before you tan

Top tip – if you shave your facial hair, make sure you do it before you apply your self-tan. This is crucial, as it means your tanning product – whether you go for a clear tanning water or a mousse – sticks to your skin properly.

Shaving 24 hours before tanning is the optimum time. But if you’ve got a last-minute night out you need to tan for, don’t worry – you can still tan even if you’ve just shaved.

Exfoliate: 24 hours before you tan

Exfoliating your face and body is the next step. If you’re new to exfoliating, don’t panic – it’s really straightforward. Our skin is thicker than women’s skin, which means it can be a bit rougher in texture too. That’s why it’s so important to remove any dead skin, which can turn a different colour to the rest of your skin when you’re tanning, resulting in an uneven colour.

To exfoliate, you can use a body scrub with physical grains that’ll slough off that dead skin. Chemical exfoliants, meanwhile use skincare ingredients such as salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid to get rid of dead skin on the surface of your skin and in your pores for smooth, soft skin that’s ready to be tanned. The latter is better for your face because scrubs can damage the more sensitive skin there.

After exfoliating, make sure you moisturise again and pay close attention to your hands, elbows, knees, and feet. These can be tricky areas to tan because the skin is even tougher here. This softens up these extra-tough areas even more for easier application and adhesion.

Dry and protect: immediately before tanning

Reduce potential streaking when you apply your tan by completely drying your body hair, stubble, hairline, and skin completely. Then, apply a thin coating of lip balm or Vaseline on your nails, eyebrows, and hairline to prevent the tan from staining or leaving weird streaks around these areas.

Apply your tan

Now it’s time for application. For sprays, apply a single, light coating all over your body from an arm’s length distance using a soft, circular motion. Once applied, take a dry towel and gently pat away any excess build-up on stubble or around your hairline.

When using mousse, a tanning mitt is the easiest way to apply the product without staining your hands. The ideal amount for a first coat is three pumps for each section of the body. After applying, use a clean, soft-textured face cloth over any hairier areas of the body to avoid any build-up at the hair follicles and to prevent the hair from changing colour.

The trick to successful self-tanning is that less is more. Start small and work your way up to a deeper tan. You can even build up a deeper tan over the course of a few days if you’re brand new to it and you want to take it slow. A bonus here is that you’ll look like you’re bronzing more naturally!

Self-tan is for everyone. It shouldn’t just be the girls who have all the fun – there’s no better way to feel great ahead of a big night out or your long-awaited party holiday than with a deep tan. Because let’s face it, pasty arms and legs don’t feel quite as good. With these tips, you’ll be able to get that perfect deep but natural-looking tan.