Browse Business Etiquette

In the past 2 weeks, I've received an incredible number of emails and calls from people who tell me they have "zero budget" or "money is really tight right now" or "I have a very limited cash flow." After you've read dozens of emails saying the same basic thing you begin to see a pattern. I completely understand. I've actually been there and can relate to it. Ron and I spent quite a few years with a negative cash flow, so I totally get it. People are scared. Too scared to change their life and take a chance. Scared that they can't start their own business.

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Every day, I become ever more increasingly aware of everyone that my life touches on a day to day basis. Recently I was trying to calculate how many lives would be affected each and every day if everyone I said hello to, wished a good day to, or waved into traffic during the rush hour, did the same to everyone their lives touched.

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More Details about international greetings here. There are several forms of international greetings. Whether two businesspeople use a handshake, kiss and/or bow, for example, will depend on their cultural backgrounds. It is always a good idea to check with someone familiar with the customs of your host country before you travel or host international clients so you understand the acceptable and practiced forms of greeting. Handshakesr

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More and more people with physical, mental and emotional impairments are joining the workforce, and business people who become disabled are returning to work like never before. The basic etiquette with the differently-abled persons is the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would want to be treated. Here are some other tips for making business more comfortable for you and your professional contacts. People Who Are Mobility Impaired:rn- A wheelchair is part of a person’s space and should not be touched, leaned on, or pushed without explicit permission.r

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When I first started planning international meetings more than 20 years ago, “going global” was the catchphrase of the day. Companies sought new markets outside of the United States and associations sought new membership.

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The title of this article suggests that you might be standing in front of a crowd of 300 and introducing yourself. Not really. You just met one guy who looks like he might be nice to talk with at this party you both are enjoying. But – did you realize when you said hello that you just met everyone he knows too? Well, you did.

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Have you ever heard of the expression water under the bridge? It refers to past experiences and conflicts. The assumption is that the longer you live, the more water you have under your bridge. Most people use this expression when they are referring to a bad experience they had. So here's my question... How much water has to be under your bridge before you can walk off? Personally, I think you should focus on what is BEYOND the bridge, not what is under it. It's hard to move forward in your life if you are constantly looking behind you. Start walking towards your future.

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I've been getting some interesting calls lately. In the last ten days, I've gotten more "panic" calls than I've had in a long time. The reasons for the calls vary. Some people are calling because they're worried about money and the recession. Others call because the "you know what" has hit the fan and they need help figuring out what to do. I've had several of these. Since I'm pretty good at putting out forest fires, I thought I would share some tips when you come across your own "forest fire".

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It was exactly one year ago … May 21, 2012. The day after my 51st birthday. A day that I will never ever forget for the rest of my life. It was the day that I went to the doctor because I suspected I had breast cancer. Unfortunately I was right. Stage 3 to be precise. Talk about life throwing you to the ground! One minute you’re great and the next you’re down on the ground flat on your back.

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It had been a lean month and both Ron and I were worried about paying the bills. It's hard to run three companies with no bank loan! In fact, it was the first time we had actually lost money and been in the red. That usually didn't happen to us. To make matters worse, both our son's birthdays were coming up, Christmas was right around the corner, we owed money to some associates and company bills loomed. What to do, what to do.

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It was the summer of 2004 when I finally decided to live a positive life. In fact, I'll never forget the day it happened. It started off like any other summer day. After lunch, I decided to take my boys to the neighborhood pool. They were excited because the pool had just opened for the season. When we got there, I quickly found some chairs near some acquaintances of ours, and as the boys swam, we started to chat.

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Today's topic? Competition. I can't tell you how many phone calls we get about this topic. It's number one on everyone's list... who is the competition? How do I beat them? They're going to take all the clients!!! NOT TRUE. Plenty of business out there for everyone folks.

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Everyone measures it differently. Some measure it by how much money they make. Others measure it by their career path and corresponding title. Then you have the people who measure it by the things that they have such as the size of their house, their art and jewelry, and the number of cars that they own. Others measure it by the state of their health. As children, many of us measured success by the friends we had. Were we in the "in-group" at that back table in the cafeteria, or were we outside looking in?

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I grew up in the 1960's and 70's when there were no computers, PDA's or cell phones. There were no microwaves, no DVD's, no MP3 players and there were only about 7 good stations on television. We didn't stay home and play video games all day because there were no video games to speak of back then. Instead we played outside, talked to our friends on the phone and listened to music.

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Taking chances. That seems to be the theme of the week. Taking chances... Taking the chance that hiring you will be the perfect solution. Taking the chance that investing in your company will be a wise investment. Taking the chance that starting up a company of your own will bring you prosperity. Taking a chance when the world is telling you the opposite. This reminds me of an old story my father told me when I was a child...

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1. Do a business plan. It really doesn't matter how short or long it is, nor does it have to be fancy with colored charts. However, you really should do one so that you know where you are going, what you are doing and how you're going to get there. 2. Get some business liability insurance! Please don't start a business without it. 3. Legal Documents - contracts, agreements, etc... Get this right the first time and you won't have to put out fires in the future. You'll need both client contracts as well as vendor agreements.

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What if today was the day when your life changed for the better? If you look back, I'll bet my last dollar that you all can remember one day that completely changed your path forever. That one day when your world tilted and it caused you to walk in a new direction. I can remember mine. It was 1979 and I was 18 years old. I had just graduated from high school and decided to take a year off before I went to college. My dysfunctional childhood had turned me into an angry teenager with no direction. I was tired of being the family ping pong ball, and I wanted to get away from everyone.r

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If you conduct a number of meetings a week and they seem to get longer and longer, and accomplish less and less, here are some guidelines on how you can hold a meeting that is more productive and positive. We have all attended meetings that seem to go on and on and on… but it is only if you let ...

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In this hyped and frenzied world of impersonal communication, most people have forgotten the value of common courtesy, decent manners and correct social etiquette. “The world was my oyster until I used the wrong fork.”n-Oscar Wilde Today the rigid rules of “society” of years gone by have faded ...

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