(Quote courtesy: Ralph Waldo Emerson) Many people assume that " image refers solely to our personal appearance — to our fashion sense, grooming habits and physical fitness ." Thanks to this assumption, fueled by various TV makeover shows, people tend to equate image management with fashion consulting, with the makeovers seen on programs such What Not to Wear. In my view, physical appearance is only one component of our image. It is one of a myriad ways that we express who we are (or think we are) to the world. Your image is your concept of yourself . This concept is developed in your mind, projected into the physical universe and, once the concept is “out there,” interpreted and acted upon by the people around you. Image is the collection of external messages that we communicate (intentionally or not) about our inner selves. We communicate these messages not just through our appearance, but through our actions, our speech and our lifestyle. Everythin...