Archives

Category Archive for: ‘Blog’

Meals that Bring Your Family Together 0

Family meals are key to creating close relationships with your children. It is a time for sharing and showing by example the importance of civility.

Statistics show that children in families who regularly eat together are less likely to have health and weight issues. Additionally, grades go up, and addictive and troublesome behaviors like alcohol and drug use go down. Children tend to be more emotionally balanced.

We all have busy schedules, but it is not impossible to spend quality meal time together. Here are some tips to help you:

• Make it a priority. You make time for the things that are important. Put family meal dates on the calendar and stick to them. Even if it is two or three times a week – some time is better than no time.

• It doesn’t have to be dinner. Be flexible with your family’s schedule. Saturday morning pancakes can be just as meaningful as Tuesday night lasagna.

• Plan ahead. Know what the menu is and make sure ingredients are on-hand. Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

• Keep it easy. Your meals do not need to be elaborate. The point here is to bring your family together. Cook a one-pot dish in your crock pot so you’re not standing over the stove all day. Make it a “salad night” or order in if plans go awry.

• Include everyone in the conversation. Even more important that talking to your children is listening to them. Our primary need in life is to be heard and acknowledged. Listen to your children’s ideas and opinions. Even if you do not agree with them, acknowledge that they have value.

• Exclude the heavy topics. Try and keep your dinner conversation light and enjoyable. Life happens, and sometimes coming together as a family means dealing with troubling events. Hopefully, these are rare for your family.

• Tell stories. Children love to hear stories about their parents and older family members. Introduce them to their family history through stories and you will have their undivided attention.

Spending quality time with family members during meals will give everyone at your table many happy memories.

Have you incorporated family meal time into your busy schedule? Tell us how you did it!

Posted on: 05-14-2013
Posted in: Blog, Dining

Congrats to April 2013 Corporate Grads! 0

Our April 2013 Corporate Etiquette Certification class was an exciting week.  Particpants came from California, Florida, Atlanta, Ohio and Guam!

During our week together we focused on corporate attire, public speaking, dining skills, digital etiquette, networking skills, and much more.  Particpants even spent a day at Neiman Marcus learning about professional dress.

They are now ready to teach this empowering information to executives, managers, corporate interns, new hires, and college students.

 

Our newest Certified Corporate Etiquette Consultants are:

  • Candace Smith – Orange, CA
  • Thomas White – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • Katherine Melbern – Indio, CA
  • Abigail Schmidt – Tanuming, Guam
  • Tallene Eichelberger - Ada, OH
  • Dinamy Gantt – Atlanta, GA

We wish each of them much success.  Congratulations!

Posted on: 04-19-2013
Posted in: ASP Corporate Training Graduates, Blog

Communicating Effectively in a Judgmental World 0

Our efforts to communicate with one another are constantly thwarted these days.  Technology, while being a very good thing, has also caused us to expect instantaneous information.  And at the same time, we suffer from short attention spans.

We tend to forget that email, texting, and social networks are only the messengers – we are still communicating with humans.  Humans have feelings, as well as egos, so it pays to ensure we send the right message.

  • Slow down!  Take a few extra seconds to proofread and edit your message before sending it.
  • Go easy on the acronyms.  LOL!  Everyone may not be familiar with the same ones you are, and limit them only to text messages and social network posts.  In email, or any work-related communications, skip them all together.  They will not help your professional image.
  • Use short, concise sentences.  The average person better absorbs information that is written at an 8th grade level.  Information is rarely read – it is usually skimmed (remember, we’re all in a big hurry!).  Keep it simple so your message is clear.
  • Own your message.  If someone misunderstands you, apologize and restate what you wrote so that it is clear.  Taking responsibility shows your sincerity, no matter what you are communicating.

What experiences have you had with miscommunications?  Do you have a story about a message gone wrong?  Tell us about it here.

Posted on: 04-10-2013
Posted in: Blog, In the News

April Fool’s – Funny or Not? 0

Fun and foolishness occur more than once a year, but there is one day that gives us permission to enjoy them to excess.  April Fool’s Day!

However, there are times when the pranks go a little too far.  Read the following scenarios and decide if they are appropriate:

  1. You get along really well with your boss, VP of National Sales, and you know he has a terrific sense of humor.  So you and a couple of coworkers redecorate his office with silly string and a few other choice items.  What you don’t know, is that your boss has an important meeting scheduled with a new client – in his office.
  2. You are the owner of a small business.  Profits have been down for the past year, but you know your staff have been working hard.  So you call a meeting at 11:45 a.m. with everyone in the office.  You will be discussing some decisions you have made on a “new direction for the company.”  When your folks arrive in the conference room, they are greeted with a nice buffet lunch and a hearty “April Fool’s!  Our new direction is to have more fun around here!”
  3. You send a fake Save the Date announcement to a few friends and family members.  Just to push them over the top, your “future spouse” is someone they either don’t know or don’t like. 

Which prank would most enjoyable?  Our guess would be #2.

Antics that may physically, professionally, or emotionally hurt you or someone else should be avoided.  Especially if you are acting on impulse.

Have you been involved in any regretful shenanigans?  Share your story here.

Posted on: 03-29-2013
Posted in: Blog, Holidays, In the News

A Dream of a Dinner Party 0

Do you ever dream of having a dinner party that gets many compliments and has people clamoring to stay on your guest list?

This is how you can make it come true.

  • Diversify your guest list. Of course everyone wants to be on it, but you know how to keep things interesting. You choose people who have just enough in common to keep conversations going, but diverse enough to expose everyone to a unique profession, a different culture, or a new tradition to share.

 

  • Shake up the seating arrangements. If possible, place couples so that they are not sitting across from or next to each other. Seat people according to personality and interests. If one of your guests is incredibly shy or has a special need, seat him next to you so you may ensure he receives the attention he requires to feel comfortable.

 

  • Make it a game. Between courses, or if there is a lull in conversation and guests get that glazed-over look, tell them to turn the table. This means that if most of them have been talking to the person on their right, everyone turns and talks to the person on their left. There are also games like Table Topics that have guests draw a card and talk about what is on it. Boredom be gone!

 

  • Set it pretty. Entertaining is the perfect excuse to pull out all the stops when it comes to your table setting. Use the china, crystal, and silver. Or use the best you have. Place flowers, candles, and seasonal items down the center of the table to create ambience that begets many compliments. It is well worth the extra minutes and effort

Could you incorporate these suggestions at your next dinner gathering?  Let us know what you think.

Posted on: 03-22-2013
Posted in: Blog, Dining, Holidays, In the News

A Saint, a Shamrock, and a Pot ‘o Gold 0

St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland, a bank holiday in Northern Ireland, and a fun day in other parts of the world.

Though the religious aspects of the day are observed by many people, the secular aspects are what the holiday is most known for.  Wearing green, decorating with shamrocks, eating corned beef and cabbage, and drinking Irish lager and whiskey are how most of us celebrate.

Any event that encourages imbibing needs a word of caution.  The majority of St. Patrick’s celebrations are public – parades, festivals, etc.  Make sure you keep yourself in check (or else make sure to avoid cameras).

Know your limits.  If your pot ‘o gold happens to contain alcohol, it pays to know how much you can enjoy before you get too tipsy.  If you are out celebrating for several hours, have a glass of water in between drinks and pace yourself carefully.

Make mischief, not enemies.  All ‘Kiss Me I’m Irish” t-shirts should not be taken literally.  Know who you are joking around with and, again, what your limits are.

Although St. Patrick himself is said to have started the drinking tradition by scolding an innkeeper on his lack of “generosity” with a shot of whiskey, there is no religious reason to overdo it.

However, it is still a day worth celebrating.  On that note, we offer you this Irish Toast:

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow,

And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

Posted on: 03-14-2013
Posted in: Blog, Holidays, In the News

Keep the Madness Out of March 0

March winds bring . . . March Madness!  Yes, once again crowds gather in living rooms and sports bars to see their favorite teams battle it out for a title. 

As we know, crowds and alcoholic beverages are a breeding ground for rude behavior.  Perhaps some tips can help your gathering keep a perfect score!

  • Try to keep drinking to a minimum.  We are completely aware that this goes against the mindset of most sports fans, but you have to agree that it is usually the cause of most bar brawls. 
  • Cheer for your team while being courteous to the other team.  No team is perfect, so there is no reason to be overly critical – or just plain mean – when talking about the one that just shot a 3-pointer and is now leading.
  • Be extra-nice to your waiters and waitresses.  Over-crowded working conditions put a lot of stress on them.  If there was ever a time to be a big tipper, this is it!  Bonus:  You are more likely to be remembered next time and will be well taken care of.
  • Thank your host!  If someone else took care of your bar tab or had you over to their home to watch the game, send them a thank-you note.

Keep madness at bay this March, but have fun and enjoy the games.  May the best team win!

Do you have any other tips that may help fellow sports fans?  Tell us about them here.

Posted on: 03-6-2013
Posted in: Blog, In the News, sports

Writing Thank-you Notes & Addressing Envelopes 0

Writing Thank-you Notes and Addressing Envelopes is an area that we always seem to get a lot of questions about.  Here are a few pointers to help you brush up on your skills!

Thank-you Notes

  • Keep your note short and simple.
  • Emphasize the gratitude and interest in the job, gift, favor, or invitation.
  • You should plan to send a note within 24 hours.
  • Write clearly and carefully in your very best penmanship. If your penmanship is truly terrible, you may type your note on the computer.
  • Write the date at the bottom of the note in the left-hand corner.
  • Proofread your note thoroughly before sending.

Envelopes 

  • When addressing an envelope to a boy thirteen or younger, use “Master.” After he is thirteen, the envelope is addressed using “Mr.”
  • When writing a girl who is not married and under the age of 18, address the envelope using “Miss.”  
  • Use “Ms.” if she is not is married and older than 18.
  • When writing a lady in business use “Ms.”
  • When writing a lady who is married use “Mrs.”
  • When addressing an envelope to a married couple use “Mr. and Mrs.”
  • The return address is always positioned on the back flap of the envelope. Just the street address and the city/state are necessary.

 

Posted on: 02-12-2013
Posted in: Blog, In the News

Small Greetings = Big Impressions 0

 

Hosting a party requires a lot of work.  It is nearly impossible to greet every guest as they walk in your door.  When making rounds, you inevitably get held up in conversation and can only wonder if you spent time with everyone attending.

A good host needs help.  What better reason to involve your children?

Actually, there is a better reason.  Teaching your children to properly greet and mingle makes them active participants in your event.  Confidence is instilled and social skills are developed.  A winning combination if there ever was one. 

Your guests will never forget that your children

  • Made eye contact
  • Shook hands with them
  • Introduced themselves and other guests
  • Offered a beverage or gave directions to the buffet

Each of these is a skill your children will use throughout their lives.  They are skills that make people likeable and successful.

A fine gift to give your children – and yourself.

Posted on: 12-13-2012
Posted in: Blog, Children, Dining, Holidays, Parents

Meaningful Gifts That Won’t Empty Your Wallet 0

With the holiday season now officially upon us, we begin the search for gifts that fit our budget, but provide enjoyment for the recipient.  A pretty tall order for some of us.

You have seen the credit card commercials that list the prices of certain items, then mention something meaningful at the end and label it “priceless”.  What if you could give a “priceless” item to someone in your life that costs you practically nothing?

Mementos of a person, place, or time in someone’s life are gifts of great sentimental value and are treasured always.  Some suggestions I recommend are:

  • Personal items, whether belonging to someone deceased or living, evoke loving memories. Think about it, our most valuable possessions are the ones that once belonged to a grandparent, favorite aunt or uncle, or a parent. I know people who include everything from farm equipment to jewelry amongst their treasures. Given along with a heartfelt note to the recipient, a personal item brings many years of reminiscent smiles.
  • Recipes are also a favorite memento.  Give one of your favorites along with a bag of necessary ingredients.  You might also create a book of family favorites to give to younger relatives and include stories of a time when each dish was enjoyed.  They will remember your stories as they prepare your recipes and create their own memories.
  • Photos are incredibly easy to reproduce today and always appreciated.  You can frame them, place them in an album, or get really creative with a scrapbook or shadowbox.  Whatever your budget allows, they provide a meaningful trip down memory lane.

Try one or all of these suggestions for a wallet-friendly holiday.  You are sure to be rewarded with appreciative hugs and those three special words, “This is priceless.”

What “priceless” gifts have you received?  Tell us about them.

Posted on: 11-26-2012
Posted in: Blog, Holidays
Page 1 of 2112345»1020...Last »