A Point of Protocol

“When you don’t know what you don’t know, you don’t know what you’re missing.” Judith Rasband AICI CIM Professional Presence: Social and professional stance that elicits trust, respect and camaraderie. It responds appropriately with behaviors and mannerisms acceptable in a civil society. Protocol is an established code of behavior. It is rooted in tradition and steeped in courtesies and required decorum. A breach of protocol or etiquette is often unspoken, but has been the ruin of many promising relationships. However, the command of protocol and etiquette is often overlooked in today’s “business casual “marketplace. As the business arena becomes more culturally intertwined, protocol and etiquette have assumed an increasingly important role in establishing long-term relationships. Professional presence facilitates a positive personal rapport and builds the foundation for solid relationships. It is the invisible cloak worn on top of your suit and just inside your skin. John Kuyp

Recently, I was berated by a sweet faced lady, who assuming I was familiar with all of the local landmarks, curtly informed me that I should make it my business to "know" my city if I expected people to frequent here. Then, she sped off, turning across several lanes to reach whatever destination was next on her agenda. As I shook my head, I thought, "Welcome to tourist season!". Hello,  are you a tourist? Yes? Well, welcome to our city, our community, and our world in Any Town, USA! We really appreciate that you have chosen to travel our streets, explore our sites, stay in our hotels and taste our culinary delights! We will try not to stare at your choice of dress, snicker at your accent, or beep when you are lost and make wide left turns from the right hand lane! But, we do need you to know that this is our home and like any good guest, there are rules for civilized and polite engagement which enhances the experience for all.  Vayama, an online internation

I love a great bargain! Department store clearance racks aside, nothing spells summer like a handmade YARD SALE sign!  For the avowed  bargain hunter, it's enough to cause salivation like Pavlov's dog!  I would rather spend an hour in search of a relic than ten minutes choosing from a rack of properly priced and neatly arranged anything. Cataloged and pristine items have a place during the holiday rush or end-of-season sales, but there is a feeling of accomplishment from unearthing a hidden treasure at the back of a bin of purses or the bottom of a crate of books!  "Junk stores" and road side shops are also intriguing, but a yard sale is the urbanites hunting ground!  So, when we spot the sign, alert the car to make the u-turn, slam into park and attempt to amble nonchalantly amongst the goodies, here are a few tips to make our hunting ground a more enjoyable experience: 1. Assume everything you touch has a sentimental value. It was once a gift, belonged to a lov

(In loving memory of my brother, Gregory.  You always believed I could.)  It's been a while since I have written something public but recent events have driven the protocol person inside of me crazy! Through a series of unfortunate events, I found myself seated in a funeral parlor surrounded by friends, family, well-wishers, and onlookers. One hardly expects to know everyone who shows up at such a gathering, but cordial behavior is extended to all, no matter how severe the grief. But, there is a line. Crossing it whether knowingly or unwittingly, always causes the recipient of such foolishness to reassess their tenacious hold on their present reality. They must first ask themselves, if the person is actually real. In times of grief, it is easy to imagine things another way because each moment is filled with "what if's and why's". After ascertaining the obvious, yes, there they are, the next question becomes, "did I really hear that or did they actually

A Point of Protocol: It may be your birthday!!...or not! : So, maybe your beginning story wasn't so great…or maybe it was. You were blasted into a cold world of happy, romantic, baby loving bl...