One of my greatest weaknesses is that I am a "what you see is what you get" kind of person. I don't go out of my way to dress up for nearly anyone, and I focus on substance over hype. But my approach is problematic because while I might see myself as Dr. Boyce Watkins, there are people who may judge the book by its cover. So, one of the reasons I started working with a stylist was because I knew that to get where I wanted to go, I had to make some changes to my approach.

The Dr. Boyce spotlight for today is Ernest Moore. Ernest is an expert on style and wardrobe and he is here exclusively on AOL Black Voices to give insights into how you can upgrade your game when it comes to style and fashion. I don't have to tell you that how you dress is critically important to succeeding in the world of business. The interview is below, enjoy!

What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Ernest Moore, and I am the Owner of EMI Wardrobe Consulting. I am an image and wardrobe consultant, personal shopper/stylist, and I also teach etiquette, with the result of making males into gentlemen.

How can people benefit from the service you provide?
In this era of everything being done in haste, we have forgotten to teach our young men the importance of their image and their wardrobe. We have also forgotten how important it is to treat others well. The term, gentleman," has lost it's luster in our urban communities. Here at EMI, I will show that it is not only cool, but very important to have these qualities that most schools don't teach. It is said, "People will form an opinion of you, within the first 5 seconds of perceiving you." While you cannot judge a book by it's cover, it is important that people feel comfortable with our young men and categorize them at first sight in a positive way.

Why does image seem to matter so much in the business world and what are some common mistakes people make?
Image is the view other people have of you. It generally influences the way other people relate to us and the way we are perceived by the public. Simple things like smiling, a firm handshake, the right kind of wardrobe, proper table manners at a business lunch, and the correct tie knot for the shirt -- not having these in place -- are just a few of the common mistakes most people make.


What are some of the hurdles you've experienced as a businessman?
One of the hurdles I have experienced as a businessman is that most men think they already know what they are doing. They are too proud to ask for assistance, unless they go into a store and ask a salesperson for their opinion. Another hurdle I have to encountered is the relaxed dress code, or no dress code at all, in most companies. They only dress "business casual" when a client is arriving. Most companies do not have or even enforce a dress code, so staff comes to work in jeans, Tims, and jerseys, and then employers wonder why they are not achieving maximum results from their employees. Third, most men think they are gentleman, but they will do some of the things a gentleman would never do, for example, wear a hat inside of a building, not know how to tie a bow tie, drink milk directly from the container, drink beer from a bottle at a restaurant, not knowing which fork to use, etc.

What advice would you give others seeking to become entrepreneurs?
Be passionate about your business, learn as much as you can, don't try to re-invent the wheel (usually someone else has already done what you're trying to do), and last but not least, "Never ever give up!"

What projects are you working on and what are your plans for the future? How can people reach out to use your service?

Current projects include:
a. Creating custom clothing
b. Writing a book, but making it so those with the least amount of knowledge can benefit
c. An instructional DVD
d. Tapping into client pool of professional athletes and entertainers (if they dress well, and have etiquette, those who view them will also...)
e. Working with small to mid-size companies
f. Creating the essence of the absolute male as a brand in all I do

People can reach out to me via Face Book, LinkedIN, Twitter, email, website, or by phone. I can travel to them, or even empower them through grooming coaching by phone or video.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our AOL Black Voices audience?
There are many other image and wardrobe consultants, personal shoppers/stylists, and people who teach etiquette, but very few can provide this as an all-in-one service -- not to mention for the value I provide. I bring passion, knowledge, and a willingness to educate and empower our young men to be the best man they can become. The sagging pants, poor manners, and lack of confidence in our daily routines only makes for an even worse off generation. As a people, we always talk about the wrongs in our communities -- well this is my way of making the change. I am creating a movement, that hopefully will transcend me long after I've gone on to glory. Thank you for taking the time to review my answers, and I look forward to speaking with you in the very near future.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the bookBlack American Money To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.