Saturday, February 23, 2013

Pete's cookies

I owe Pete a plate of cookies.

Pete's the greatest guy, really. He has the softest, kindest voice that just makes you feel calm within moments of being in his presence. His warm smile lights up the room and when he asks you how you are doing, he really wants to know. When you ask him how he's doing, he touches on the highlights: business is good, his family cat is MIA, he's really excited because his son is visiting from college. You get the sense that he loves his life, his family, and his work. He does and it shows.

See, Pete's Auto Body has been a Pacific Grove staple for years. Everyone knows that if you want a good, honest deal and beautiful craftsmanship for your newly banged up ride, you go to Pete. And we also know that he will help you out if you need it. He's done it twice with me and this last time, he really went all out, personally absorbing several hundred dollars so that my back window would roll up and down again. The car is beautiful and when I picked her up, I was absolutely thrilled with the job that he did and I promised him cookies.

Pete passed away early in February, 2013; just a few weeks ago. And still…

I owe Pete a plate of cookies.

Remember to honor your promises when you make them. Do it Now. You never know when you might loose your chance.

Thank you for visiting my blog and have a fabulous day!




"If we all practiced manners and civility, what would we then have left to war over?" ~Carrie Glenn

~Signing off...




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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Visibility at Hand

So, part of being the expert consultant for Etiquette at Hand, is transparency. Displaying manners is not about smiling and pretending everything is always OK. It's about finding the most civil and graceful way to get through even the toughest challenges. So I have decided that my blogging will not only include the expected manners and etiquette tips, quotes, etc., but will also include my journey with this company. The good days. The challenging days. The days I totally break down and lose it. Like today.

I can't! I can't! I CAN'T!!! I just can't do it all, I fear. There is so much to be done to start this business- the networking, marketing, and planning- all these are overwhelming when I've already quit my job and am now watching my funds sweep away with no hope to pay my rent in March. No one is going to care about this. No one will sign up for classes. Who am I? What makes me so special? And with all the work that needed to be done, I just sat in fear. Or terror, rather. And I cried. Or sobbed, rather. Then I prayed. Or yelled at God, rather.

And there was no relief. No clap of thunder. No great awakening. In fact, a while later, I got a call from a friend who suggested I get a part time job… Well meaning advice, but I just quit a job to get my business started. I really want to put everything into Etiquette at Hand and I need all the hours in the day to do it. So why do I spend so much time paralyzed with fear? What is wrong with me? My room is a mess. The dishes have taken permanent residency in the sink and on the surrounding counters. My balcony looks like a junkyard. All these things have to change in order for me to be successful since I am basing my business out of my home at first. I am truly terrified.

Then I went to ballet. I didn't want to. Well, I did want to but I was so stressed and really beside myself that going to ballet at that moment seemed more akin to getting a root canal. However, I went and class was cancelled. While chatting with friends I told them about my new intended career. As I explained how etiquette can be used to actually help relationships, I felt my sense of purpose returning.

To be honest, I was not raised to be polite. At all. And even up through the last few years, it was hit and miss. As long as everything went my way, or at least went somewhat well, I was the picture of perfect politeness. But hurt my feelings, be mean to me, treat me or a loved one with disrespect, and my Irish blood could boil your hair off. And when I was knee deep in the most challenging conflict of my adult life, I stopped. I read a quote… okay… just spent 15 minutes trying to find it but can't. So I will have to paraphrase and hope that one of you know what it is, who said, and to whom I can give credit for this piece of golden advice, since it did change my life. So here goes:

"If you smile at your enemy and show great manners towards them, they will not even know they are your enemy, thus giving you the upper hand."

Treacherous, right? And thus began my quest to "personalize" my manners. I got the jerks off my back and regained my dignity. But something else happened. I wondered what would happen if I applied my newfound idea to my everyday pals and family members. It was a slow and painful journey and I still slip occasionally, but practicing politeness has improved every single relationship I have. You can't yell at your daughter if you are being polite. You can't interrupt your son-in-law if you are being polite. You can't get all mad at your friend for disappointing you if you are being polite. It's a conscious choice, though elusive at first, and soon became the hallmark of my new lifestyle. This doesn't make me a doormat (just ask an ex-colleague who failed at bullying me in the workplace when I used polite but firm actions to stop her). It just gives me choices that actually work.

 As I relayed this to one friend, she was super excited and even suggested I write a book. And I am BACK!

"If we all practiced manners and civility, what would we then have left to war over?" ~Carrie Glenn

Etiquette at Hand on Pinterest;
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Thank you for visiting my blog and have a fabulous day!

~Signing off...

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Hello world!

Well, hello, World! This is my first ever blog and I am so excited to join the world of blogging. Since I love to write, I am not sure why I haven't started sooner but nonetheless, here I am. My name is Carrie and I shall be blogging for my new business, Etiquette at Hand.

Etiquette at Hand is the Monterey Bay's premiere learning center for etiquette and manners. Ok, so I know you are immediately thinking, fork on the left, spoon on the right...right? First: correct! Bravo! And learning this part of manners is very important, especially if you plan on dining at the White House any time soon (or you're about to meet your future mother-in-law). But we don't stop there!

At Etiquette at Hand, we have a three-fold mission:
  1. Emphasize civility and courtesy: treating one another with kindness, compassion, and empathy.
  2. Enhance communication: practice using politeness in everyday conversations and conflicts to optimize how we relate with others.
  3. Enjoy the moment: having a set of etiquette principles already in place affords us the time and luxury to completely enjoy ourselves whilst dining, entertaining, on outings, or simply savoring a cup of tea.

So that is the basics of Etiquette at Hand. Welcome to our blog! And since I know that you cannot get enough of proper manners, etiquette tips, and tea party enthusiasm, be sure to like us on Facebook, tweet us at Twitter, check out our totally cool Pinterest, and view us on Youtube (well, we don't really have anything on Youtube yet but as soon as we do, I'll certainly blog it here!!!). Please feel free to comment and/or ask questions and I will be delighted to answer.

"If we all practiced manners and civility, what would we then have left to war over?" ~Carrie Glenn
Etiquette at Hand on Pinterest;
Etiquette at Hand on Twitter;
Etiquette at Hand on Facebook ;

Thank you for visiting my blog and have a fabulous day
~Signing off...