How to Be Charismatic

Let’s do a quick exercise. Take a moment and think of the word “charisma”.  Make a list of all the people that pop into your mind that have it.  Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, and Oprah have it.  Dean Martin, Liz Taylor, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Audrey Hepburn had it.  Our lists most likely vary […]

Should I Write a Thank You Note for a Hostess Gift?

Have you ever wondered if you need to send a thank you note for a hostess gift?  The answer is yes, you do. After all, the person giving you the gift went to the effort of making the purchase and putting thought into it. Sending a thank you note for a hostess gift not only […]

What to Wear to the Holiday Office Party

Is your office gearing up for the annual holiday party?  Well, it is that time of year.  Here are a few tips you might want to consider before heading to the stores (or your closet)  before picking out your next outfit for your office party. What to Wear to the Holiday Office Party   Do’s […]

Remembering Letitia Baldrige: Business Etiquette Author

Letitia Baldrige and the Timeless Power of Business Etiquette I had the extraordinary pleasure of meeting Letitia Baldrige at The Dallas Museum of Art. At the time, I had just launched The American Academy of Etiquette, and Mrs. Baldrige was the keynote speaker on a very cold Sunday afternoon. I could hardly wait to meet […]

What to Wear to the Office Halloween Party

Ask: Find out what is going on for Halloween at your office. What is the company culture?  Is your office going “all out” with decorations and dressing up or is the plan to pass around a few pieces of candy? Choose “nice”:  Now is not the time to be “naughty”.  Save that for a night out […]

What is on Your Cell Phone?

With the risk of sounding like a germaphobe, I am going to post this anyway.  As I was glancing at the headlines of The Wall Street Journal this morning, I couldn’t help but notice an article on germs and cell phones.  Yikes! According to this article, bacteria from our phone can be the cause of […]

My Visit to Mrs. John L. Strong Stationery

While I was in New York last week I had the opportunity to meet with the new owner of Mrs. John L. Strong, Allan Li. Allan and his wife, Jacqueline Kotts purchased the stationery company in 2009. Yes, I was in heaven.  You know I am a big believer in the handwritten note.  I have […]

The Arthritis Foundation: Move to Improve

Did you know today, October 12, 2012 is World Arthritis Day?  This campaign encourages all Americans to Move to Improve. The Arthritis Foundation is committed to raising awareness.  To learn more, go to http://www.arthritis.org  

What to Do With a Workplace Whiner

As a speaker I hear some amazing comments from my audience about business etiquette.   I will never forget when I spoke about a suggestion I had read  many years ago in a book.  It is imprinted in my mind.  The suggestion was “Don’t Complain – Don’t Explain.” One woman in the audience raised her […]

Power Dressing: Desk to Dinner

What a great idea!  Open Table has partnered with Bon Appetit and Banana Republic to create a list of restaurants so you can dine out in style during the work week.  So, how do you dine out in style?  What if you are going out after work for a business dinner?  Is it different than […]