ALPHA MALE: Confidence Is Key

The storm surge and nasty weather conditions of the past few days have made me take a second look at being prepared for any condition. Sometimes this may mean having the right outfit for a given occasion or event, other times it quite literally may mean having the perfect jacket in a storm. But it is the "bigger picture" mindset I wish to touch on. What does it mean to you to be prepared?

Is preparation enough?

Sure, you may have a closet full of go-to staples that you can whip out in any combination. Button down shirt? Check. Crisp trousers? Check. A killer blazer and long wing brogues? Check and check.  You may have studied all night for an exam or rehearsed your business presentation all morning for a 1pm brand meeting. Detailed notes? Annotated. Full on slide show and handouts? Ready, set, go! But in any of these cases, you have a certain level of preparedness. So what might be that "X Factor"? What will get you from feeling anxious about the challenge ahead to completely embracing an opportunity? Quite simply, the answer is confidence. 

Confidence

You cannot teach confidence. It comes with experience, in my opinion—experience in a variety of situations, scenarios and challenges in one's life. Call it wisdom. But even young men and women can have confidence. I treat confidence as the ability to eliminate as many variables from an equation so that the decision I make for a given set of circumstances is as predictable as I can make it. Will there be unexpected changes that can alter the result? Absolutely. But if you are prepared and confident, even the variables can be overcome and handled masterfully.

As guys, we have been taught confidence is sexy too. Whether it is dressing thoughtfully, taking the lead through a crowd with your mate by the hand, or answering someone directly and with eye contact, having strong conviction is a key to your success in all phases. Guys, be prepared. Be strong and agile of body and mind. Be confident. There is nothing in this life that will help you more.

Storms and real life

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all those effected by the recent dangerous weather conditions best wishes for a speedy recovery. We try to have fun with this column, but sometimes reality forces us to face the real storms life throws at us. I hope this Alpha Male column allows an occasional reprieve for readers to focus on simple pleasures like a discussion on style. But let us never forget to focus on what truly matters. Give when it is unexpected, stay humble, and always make sure to tell the ones you love how important they are. After all, true happiness in the bigger picture is really what matters. Take care.

Robert Babigian is owner of WHARF Clothing & Wares, a menswear retail boutique located at 212 Westminster Street in Providence, RI. A native Rhode Islander, Rob started WHARF after 2 decades in marketing and sales to fulfill his desire to combine his loves of consumer branding, small business and style that would fulfill a niche for desirable men's clothing in the Providence market. The apparel and accessories found at WHARF reflect Rob's own personal aesthetic—a combination of traditional New England staples mixed with modern fits, construction and fabrics blended together with a touch of European style. For more tips or to shop the store, stop in and see Rob and his staff or reach them online at shopwharf.com.