Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

I’ve just got my first big career break, an upper-midlevel management position at a new company. I’ve jut turned 27, fairly young for this position, and I’ll be supervising several people who are older and have been in the field longer than I have, so I need to look professional and authoritative without being stodgy. Please help.

Leigh

Manolo says, how the Manolo remembers his own precipitous climb up the corporate ladder at the shoe store of Señor Mercurio Albornoz y Bahamonde.

Already, by the age of twelve the youthful Manolo had achieved the exalted rank of Manager of Lacing in the Department of Boot-Blacking, where he was in command of four other shoeshine boys, including the very resentful Teofilo, who at 57 years of age, was understandably bitter at having been passed over for the promotion.

But, such was the cutthroat and competitive nature of professional shoe shining, in which only the best succeed.

Naturally, at the shoe shop of Señor Mecurio everyone understood the importance of having impressive and authoritative feetwear, shoes which instantly conveyed the importance of their owners.

Here, in the soft black patent leather, is the National from Stuart Weitzman, the handsome shoe with the air of competent authority.