E- Zine - June 2006

WELCOME to the PROTOCOL PLUS MONTHLY E-ZINE

IN TODAY'S ISSUE:

Tips to Outclass Your Competition - Do you have Dining Certainty?

How certain are you that you have proper dining skills? You must be certain if you are to be successful both socially and professionally – and sometimes we don’t know that we don’t know.

I have seen people in high places do things without knowing they are sabotaging themselves with unacceptable and/or lack of table manners. Many people ask me how I got into my business and I tell them “ I was raised on rules.” My father was a strict disciplinarian and being the firstborn, I suffered the full consequences of trying to “break him in.” I went to Catholic School for 12 years, and there were no excuses with the nuns. My late husband was military – reinforcing the fact that rules rule. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. If anything, I was born with a steel spoon in my mouth as my father worked in the steel mills of Pittsburgh. I learned things the hard way – through experience. In later years, I upgraded my skills and knowledge through formal studies. I find it’s a lot easier to navigate unfamiliar territory when you know what to expect, and what is expected of you. When you have certainty about your behavior, you can relax and be yourself. You can focus on the other person, and the purpose of your interaction. Follow these tip of the iceberg essential dining tips.
  • Do not eat until everyone at your table has been served, or if at a long banquet table, those around you have been served.
  • Do not put your purse, notes, briefcase, keys, glasses, phone… anything on the table while the meal is in progress.
  • Do not push your plate away from you when you are finished.
  • Bring your food to your face, not your face to your food. That’s the way animals eat.
  • Keep your elbows close to your sides. You are not a bird getting ready to take flight. Put a golf ball under each armpit and practice eating.
  • Do not play with your hair.
  • Remember not to steal your neighbor’s bread plate with the BMW Rule. Bread on Left; Meal in Center; Water on Right.

    Dining skills are not rocket science. They are simple skills that give you an absolute edge, confidence, and the respect of others. I am offering Lunch and Learn seminars for small groups. If you have a group of 4 - 10 and want to have certainty your dining skills are working in your favor rather than sabotaging your efforts, call 405-341-3216. We can arrange a place and time to meet your busy schedule. Others are watching you and noticing. Can you afford not to have impressive dining skills?

    For a complete one-day seminar that includes dining skills, visit http://www.protocolplus.net/seminar/outclass.html to learn the Rules of the Game so you can be the winner in your game.

    The Coach’s Corner – From whining to winning!

    How are your New Year’s resolutions coming? Have you reached any of your goals? Do you have any? Sounds like no fun, lots of work, and mostly whining. Would you like to shift your focus from whining to winning your game? You might ask “What game?” That’s the problem. Most people don’t know the game they’re playing. Is it more sales, a better job, a promotion, better networking, writing a book, more clients, financial independence, freedom from stress, de-cluttering your office, exercising, meditating, spending more time with your family? It’s your game, so it can be anything you want it to be. If you are going to be successful in your game, you must have a plan, you must know the rules, who is playing, and when the season starts and stops. What is it you really want out of life right now and how can you make it happen?

    Coaching questions:
  • What is the game you are playing?
  • What is your vision for success in your game?
  • Who are the players in your game?
  • What are the skills you need to play this game?
  • How can you play to win? What is your strategy?
  • What does your scorecard look like?
  • What does a winning season look like?

    It’s very hard to win the game when you’re playing alone. You must have people on your team to support you. As your coach, I can help you design your game so you can play to win. Call today for your no-obligation, coaching session. This 30-minute confidential session will give you the experience of coaching. To schedule your session, call 405-341-3216.

    Quotes of the Month

    "What you think of me is none of my business”
             --- Terry Cole-Whittaker

    “You’re either living in the problem or your living in the solution.”
             --- Bob Proctor

    Ask the Expert - “How are you?”

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