Do you see with your eyes? by Carrie Glenn, Etiquette at Hand

Picture a small, modern coffee shop sharing space with a small indie movie theater. The smell of hot coffee is more prevalent today than the popcorn.

I am upstairs with my four year old granddaughter where it is warm and open and friendly. We talk and laugh about her school. Her friends. She tries my pasta yet it is too spicy. She tips her water and only a drop escapes the lid. 

She wears the cutest hat ever. It's a white knit beanie that reads, "Meow. Just kitten." Cute as can be. And she has a wrap around dress over tights and lace-up boots. And of course a pink knit backpack. Kid's got style, I'm telling you. 

As we were leaving, a nice young lady who works there compliments Norah's boots and Norah thanks her. Norah proudly tells me "...and I looked her in the eye when I said, 'Thank you.'"

At age four she understands that it is kind and polite, to have good manners and to look people in the eye when we talk to them. My job is done. (Ha! Well maybe not...lol!) 

Signing off,

Carrie Glenn, Etiquette Expert

Please remember to Practice Politeness!

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Bio:

Carrie Glenn helps Millennials develop career etiquette so that they can become a powerful force in the workplace. She teaches workplace civility, career etiquette, volunteer and event etiquette, Mother / Daughter grace and poise, professional dining, professional image and makeup, and more. From the dining room to the boardroom, her unique training provides powerful social skills that deliver results. She is the founder of EtiquetteAtHand.com, where she teaches everything kind, classy, and beautiful and she is the author of The Periscope Checklist, the eBook that teaches professional, high quality live broadcasting skills.

Not good enough and TODAY by Carrie Glenn

Featured on NBC's TODAY Shortcut??? 

No way! But yes. It's true! "Help A Reporter Out" (HARO) is an email subscription list that sends queries from reporters and article writers to your inbox. They tell you what info they need and from which experts they want it for their upcoming projects and if all match up, you submit your pearls of wisdom.

Again.

And again.

And again, and again and again.

When I emailed my submission to Aly Walansky's query for her TODAY show site's article on taking care of tights, I sort of figured, "No way. She won't select mine. It's too dumb. It's not that good, not good enough. It's boring..." I almost didn't hit send! And the funny thing... I didn't even know she accepted the submission! 

Then today (Dec. 2), I received an email saying it was live and WAHOO! Totally flipped out.

Tights and Etiquette? Wait. "What do tights have to do with etiquette?" One might ask. It's a valid question. And the answer is simple: style is etiquette. So is how we care for our things (yes, including something as seemingly simple as tights). The less we have to think about the cares of this world, the more we can concentrate on the most important things like how we treat one another. 

And let me tell you, if my tights are bunching down my hips, it's hard to genuinely smile while greeting my potential new business partner's new husband.

So check out "How to Make tights last: Freeze them first" by Aly Walansky. Learn a few tricks to keep your tights in tip top shape

and learn about this nifty trick for retired tights and panty hose. 

And the next time you hesitate because you or your work is not "good enough" think of me and Aly Walansky and though it may be scary, put yourself out there. It's worth the risk. 

Signing off,

Carrie Glenn, Etiquette Expert

Please remember to Practice Politeness!

Never miss a blog! Click below

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Bio:

Carrie Glenn helps Millennials develop career etiquette so that they can become a powerful force in the workplace. She teaches workplace civility, career etiquette, volunteer and event etiquette, Mother / Daughter grace and poise, professional dining, professional image and makeup, and more. From the dining room to the boardroom, her unique training provides powerful social skills that deliver results. She is the founder of EtiquetteAtHand.com, where she teaches everything kind, classy, and beautiful and she is the author of The Periscope Checklist, the eBook that teaches professional, high quality live broadcasting skills.

The Think Big Revolution Keynote with Michael Port or Who Do You Think You Are by Carrie Glenn

Never have I posted someone else's video in my blogs. Here's the thing. In business etiquette, we talk about networking. We talk about connecting with others. We talk about promoting others and how to promote ourselves at the same time. That doesn't mean we arbitrarily go around posting great works from others. There's too many to choose from.

But this time I couldn't help it.

Watching this video made me feel. Made me crave something. Made me determined to continue building the community of amazing and unique people who want to make a difference in the world. And it made me think about all those missed opportunities due to that voice in my head that asks on a daily and sometimes hourly basis,

"Who do you think you are?"

Who do you think you are to believe that you can have more of life than what you've been offered? Who do you think you are to believe that you can make an impact in this world? Who do you think you are to follow your unrealistic dreams? Who? Who? Who...

Michael Port spoke of love, "You know the whole, whole room feels different now. Like we can do anything... That's love. Actually. It's all around us. That's big! See, that's what I'm talking about when I say 'Revolutionary'!" I couldn't help being moved.

And love really is revolutionary! Love is what makes Etiquette at Hand so important. We all know manners are important. Some of us practice them more often or more seriously, or even better than others. And some think we "got" it when in fact, we don't. Not really. Because though it does matter that we use proper etiquette for the proper situations, what really matters is the etiquette for how we treat each other; love each other.

Etiquette is love.

My definition of etiquette is, "the consistent display of courtesy to all people at all times" and that, my dear friends, is love.

See, here's the thing. When we make the decision, the commitment, that no matter how rude people are to us, we will respond with politeness; no matter how rushed we are, we will take the time to show patience; no matter how angry we are, we will respond in a civil and courteous manner; then we are acting in love. We are creating a safe environment in which we and others can explore and fail and thrive. Together. And in this process, we are creating love.

Who do I think I am? I am Carrie Glenn, the Etiquette Expert that stands up for love and kindness and equality.

So who do you think you are? Comment below to share who you are and what you stand for.



Signing off,

Carrie Glenn, the Etiquette Expert
Please remember to Practice Politeness!

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Carrie Glenn is the founder of Etiquette at Hand. She helps entrepreneurs develop their professional edge so that they can take command of the room, negotiate like a pro and network with those around them in any situation. She is an expert speaker and coach in business and career etiquette, effective communication and powerful presentation. From the boardroom to the dining room to the bedroom, her unique training provides powerful social skills that deliver results.

Through her services as a key note speaker and author, seminars, training programs, one-on-one coaching and online mentorship programs and products, she is delighted to empower clients to learn how to confidently reach their career and relationship goals.

How to Properly Date Women by Carrie Glenn

How to Properly Date Women by Carrie Glenn

Flowers...check. Card...check. Reservations...check...I know, I know. Valentine's Day is over. For many, it was wonderful and for others...well... Not so much. Many of us experience #datingfail to some degree. Check out these dating tips and allow me to give you the top ten dating etiquette tips to help facilitate the success of your next date night plans. Whether it's your first date, your fiftieth, or perhaps it is the day you plan to propose, following these tips gives your lover the chance to relax and see you at your best.

Give her direct compliments and skip the critiques. It's date night! Criticizing your date (even jokingly) is like bringing a third wheel to the table. It is rude and unnecessary. Instead, give her direct compliments, starting with a great compliment the moment you see her. A direct compliment is one that emphasizes the word "you," e.g., "You look lovely," or "You're so funny!"

Use direct eye contact and good posture to demonstrate your attentiveness. This may seem like a no-brainer yet check out the couples next time you are out and about. Watch how often they don't look at each other or turn their bodies away to hunch over their phones. Sit up! Shoulders relaxed and squared. Lean towards her. Watch her move. Watch her push back her hair. Watch her lips move as she talks. Look into her eyes.

Open the car door for her! Yes! She can open her own door. She is strong and self-reliant. Opening her door in no way demeans the woman's journey to equality. It is just good etiquette. It doesn't matter how long you've been dating or even married, opening the car door for your lady reminds you both on a pretty constant basis that there are basic guidelines in manners that we follow to demonstrate civility and courtesy. And of course this goes for all doors such as the house door and the door to the restaurant.

Prepare for the journey. How you travel says a lot about you. Showing her you put some thought into the mundane aspects of the date tells her that you care about her wellbeing. If you are going in your vehicle, have it cleaned. If you are using public transportation, be sure to plan your routes, have fare readily on hand, and be a gentleman to all travelers (and do please keep your knees together while seated). If you are on foot, walk on the curbside of the sidewalk. Hold her hand or allow her to take your arm yet refrain from taking hers or grasping her elbow (it feels awkward and uncomfortable).

Give yourself the Wow Factor. Experts agree that it takes less than 30 seconds for someone to sum you up. Your head, hands and feet are the top three attention grabbers so wear a great hairstyle and/or hat and a sincere smile. Clean and file your nails (really, this is non-negotiable) and moisturize your hands. Make sure your shoes are well maintained and polished. She may not think to comment on these aspects yet she will surely appreciate them. Show up with a small token of your affection in your hand and the most fabulous smile on your face.

Demonstrate grace under fire. All the little things that can go wrong on a date can add up quickly. Slow traffic. A fender-bender. Your reservation is lost. The train is late. The couple next to you thought it would be lovely to allow their new bundle of joy to exuberantly exercise his lungs throughout dinner. How you handle conflict will either be a turn on or a turn off. Remember, it's date night so have fun and be easy-going! (That said, wouldn't it be just as lovely to hand the aforementioned couple your dinner bill on your way out? One can fantasize...)

Ask her for a favor. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? It seems natural to assume that when we like someone, we are happy to do nice things for him or be nicer to him. However, studies show that when we do something for someone, we grow to like him more. So give her an opportunity to like you more by asking for her help. Any favor will do. You could ask her to help you pick out a tie (a great way to secure a future date). Be prepared to reciprocate!

Loyalty is key so have her back. And the scene goes like this: The laughing couple talk enthusiastically. They casually brush fingers, their eyes smoldering with desire... She brings up the latest office gossip and complains about a co-worker. He tries to make her feel better by underplaying said co-workers evil plot to destroy her. Her back goes up and she slips her hand from his, sliding it into her lap. How could he defend the one person who might crush her promotion dreams? Maybe he's not the one... I see this all the time with couples and even between friends. Here's the thing, trying to minimize a woman's worries only serves to put into question her ability to perceive and translate events. Also, unless a woman asks for advice, she doesn't want it. If you really want to help this uncomfortable moment pass quickly, simply listen and acknowledge her struggle. Save the strategic planning session for a non-date night.

Remember your date night theme at all times. Are you planning to propose? Are you celebrating falling in love or an anniversary? Are you simply excited for the excuse to get out of the house? Begin with the end in mind. Whatever your plans, remember them! Don't allow circumstance to rob you of your fun. Be pleasant, let conflict fizzle, honor your relationship.

Practice good table manners. Remember BMW: your bread is on the left, your meal is in the middle and your wine, water or other beverage is on the right. Pull out her chair for her unless the wait staff does it. Follow her cue on when to place the napkin in your lap, take the first drink, and take the first bite of the meal. It's very unattractive to still be settling into our seats while our date starts wolfing down the bread or worse yet, dinner. During the toast, look her in the eyes up until you tip your head back to sip your beverage. Break off one bite of bread at a time, butter and eat it. Be courteous to all wait staff. Eat your meal in time with hers (not too fast so she has to finish alone awkward! and not too slow so that she feels as though she ate too fast). Tip well.

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

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Thank you for visiting my blog and have a fabulous day

Signing off...

Bio:

Carrie Glenn helps people learn to consistently practice manners so that they can get more of the things they want. She is an expert speaker and coach in workplace civility, career etiquette, and effective communication. From the dining room to the boardroom, her unique training provides powerful social skills that deliver results. She is the founder of Etiquette at Hand, where she teaches everything kind, classy, and beautiful. Carrie Glenn is delighted to empower clients to learn how to take command of the room, enhance their relationships, and confidently reach their career and relationship goals. To learn more about her visit carrieglenn.com.