“Be The One Who Nurtures And Builds. Be The One Who Has An Understanding And Forgiving Heart. Be The

its an known hit.... but anytime i listen to the lyrics of this song...the last part..

"Who will Love You..

Who will Fight..

& Who will Fall far  Behind..."

...keeps me thinking..#thoughts out loud...

Tip Sheet: Business and Dining Etiquette

This post and any other later posts labeled as tips sheet come from a college website I found while searching around about jobs. I’m bringing it to you all to save you the hassle. Enjoy!

How you conduct yourself and treat others in a business or dining setting speaks strongly of who you are as a professional. Research worldwide tips and strategies before traveling as different cultures have different protocols.

General Tips

Use titles (Mr. Ms. Dr.), not first names until instructed to do so.  

Be on time or 5-15 minutes early. Earlier than that can be awkward and invasive.  

Prepare for meeting, developing an agenda if you are leading.  

Do not interrupt meeting agendas, but in a timely manner, be confident in concisely sharing on-topic ideas/opinions.

Do not get intoxicated at work functions.  

Do not use profanity or tell off-colored jokes.

Do not engage in office gossip.  

Bring a positive attitude and leave personal drama at home. 

Do not air work-related frustrations via social media (e.g. These people make me sick. #ISITFRIDAYYET)  

How to Approach a Group

Present yourself with confidence.

Smile and extend dominant hand.

State your name (and company).

Know how to introduce yourself (and company) in 15 to 30 seconds.

Avoid “closed” triads: two people facing shoulder to shoulder are likely having a private conversation.  

Do not fold your arms or put them in your pockets.

Greetings

Hi, Hey, Yo, What’s up?, What’s going on? are not appropriate.

Hello is appropriate.

Introducing Yourself

It is your duty to introduce yourself.

Look people in the eyes and smile in order to seem confident and approachable.

Name tags should be placed high on right shoulder.

When should you introduce yourself?

When you realize someone does not recognize you.

When attending a business or social gathering.

When seated next to someone.

When person introducing you forgets your name.

When it is a friend of a friend whom you are talking to.

Introducing Others

Use proper titles when introducing others.

Omit titles when introducing people of same rank and position.

Never introduce a co-worker/superior by first name.

Introduce person lowest on the totem pole to the one highest.

The name of the person of greater authority is spoken first.

This means you look at the most “important person” and say, “Ms. Important, I would like to introduce you to Mr. Student, an intern in our IT department. Mr. Student, this is Mr. Important, the director of technical marketing.”

When dealing with people outside the company, clients are more important than company employees, and hiring managers are more important than job seekers.

If you are seated while being introduced, stand to shake hands.

Have a firm handshake, but avoid death grips.

Tell something about the person whom you introduce.

During the Conservation

Learn how to make small talk.

Be current on domestic and international events. If you’re not and the topic is brought up, say something along the lines of “I’m not familiar with the topic but I would enjoy learning more about it.”

Know what events impact your company or client’s.

Ask questions that focus on other person, not you.

Do not interrupt and/or finish people’s sentences.

Avoid conversations about health or diet habits, cost of things, personal life, gossip, off-color jokes and controversial issues.

Don’t gaze around room in a conversation—it’s rude and makes other person feel insignificant.

Do not touch others unless you know them well.

Ending a Conversation

Do not just walk away if you see someone more interesting— ALWAYS make a closing statement before moving on:  

“Please excuse me. It was nice talking with you.”

“It was really a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

“I enjoyed talking with you. I hope to see you soon.”

Summarize, “Oh, it looks like you have a fascinating job and I wish you good luck on your project.”

If graceful disengagement doesn’t work, be more direct: “I see it is really getting late and I really must go,” then back up physically. As a last result, say a parting statement while you are shaking hands and saying good-bye.

Business Cards

Always have enough and carry in a case.

Should not be wrinkled, written on, outdated or dirty.

Present the card with the print facing the recipient.

Your name should be the largest print on the card.

Don’t write on business cards in front of others.

Don’t exchange business cards while dining.

Never pass them out like you are dealing cards.

It is polite to comment on card before putting it away rather than immediately stashing it in a pocket without looking at it

If someone offers you their business card, offer yours in return

Before offering your business card, first say, “May I give you my card?”

Do not force your card on anyone or offer it too early in a conversation

Let senior executives ask for your card. Do not offer it to them.

Meetings/Networking Events 

 It is polite to offer to pay if asked to a lunch/dinner meeting. However, whoever extends the invitation typically pays. 

Know why you are attending and who you want to meet. 

Bring business cards; Remember you represent your company. 

Do not carry a bag or notebook that fills your hands. 

Step to the right when you enter room, pausing to first observe.

Greet hosts first, if possible but do not monopolize their time. 

Introduce yourself to others, not just talking to people you know.

 Do not immediately head for the bar or food; don’t go hungry.

 Avoid foods that are messy or can’t be eaten in one bite. 

Hold food or drink in left hand to leave right hand open. 

Write a thank-you note within 24 hours. 

Work Relationships: 

Co-workers

Cooperate and develop a relationship of mutual support.

Focus on positive qualities and potential of co-workers (strengths, not weaknesses). 

Be friendly, but do not join a clique.

Spend time observing how people act, who performs well and who takes a positive view toward the job and organization. 

Beware of the gripers and avoid office gossip. 

Do not talk about co-workers behind their backs. 

Voice concerns, challenges and accomplishments.

 Remember that a peer may someday be your boss or you his. 

 Be nice, polite and friendly to everyone, including individuals who work outside of your department. 

Observe organization’s gift giving policy and be discreet when exchanging gifts if only exchanging with a few coworkers. Work Relationships: 

Supervisors 

 Approach tasks with a willing attitude. 

Enthusiastically complete “grunt” assignments. 

Demonstrate poise and maturity in everything you do. 

Ensure quality work is completed on-time. 

Supervisors are your ally, not your enemy. 

Supervisors train and develop; they aren’t best friends.

 Do not ask supervisor for personal and financial advice. 

 Cell Phones 

 Turn your phone off during meetings. 

Invest in a watch so you don’t check phone for time.

 Avoid answering in restaurants. If expecting important call, let those you are dining with know, and leave table to answer. 

In public, be aware of voice volume and move at least two arm lengths away from those around you (or out of the room). 

The people you are with should take precedence over calls. 

If you expect a call that can’t be postponed, alert your companions ahead of time.

Public phone conversations are not private. 

Email Etiquette 

 Craft a compelling subject line. 

Treat email like a business letter; always be professional. 

Keep it short and simple. 

Use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. 

Never send an email when you’re angry.

 Email is NOT confidential and can be forwarded. 

Read it and check your spelling before sending it. 

Confirm attachment you intended to attach is attached.

 Answer an email within 24 hours. 

 General Dining Etiquette 

Do not order foods that are eaten with your hands.

 Pass food from left to right (counterclockwise). 

If asked for the salt or pepper, pass both. 

 Never season food before tasting it. 

 Food is served from the left, dishes removed from the right. 

Butters, spreads or dips should be transferred to your serving dish before spreading or eating. 

Do not ask for a “to-go box” unless it is an informal situation.  

For hard to scoop items, use bread, not your finger, to push items onto fork.  

If hot food is burning mouth, discretely drink something cool.

 Napkins belong in your lap. 

If you leave table, loosely fold your napkin (do NOT refold your napkin or wad it up) and place it beside your dinner plate. 

Meeting materials or briefcases should be left under your chair until it is time to discuss business.  

Do not ask to taste or offer to let others taste your food. 

Do not blow nose at the table. Politely excuse yourself. 

Casual Dining Exceptions 

 You may order foods that are eaten with your hands. 

 When sharing chips and salsa, you don’t have to transfer salsa to your plate, but do not double dip.   

Leaving a Tip 

 Fifteen to 20 percent of the bill total is customary, but for exemplary service, a greater percentage is accepted. 

For poor service, ask to speak to the manager; still tip. 

Place Setting Tips 

 General rule: use silverware from outside in as meal progresses. 

When finished, do not push plate away. Instead place fork and knife across the center of the plate, handles to the right.

Between bites, your fork and knife are placed on the plate, handles to the right, not touching the table. 

1. Napkin

2. Salad Fork

3. Dinner fork

4. Dessert Utensil

5. Dinner Plate

6. Dinner Knife

7. Teaspoon

8. Bread Plate

9. Bitter Knife

10. Water glass

11. Wine Glass

Here are ten cons he uses to keep us from reality. You can probably think of more.

The Screen – We love the screen. The tablet, the laptop, the PC, the smartphone, the movie theater and the TV. We become addicted to the artificial image, the pretend story, the entertainment and the juice and jazz of the screen. But the screen screens us from reality. Turn off the screen.

The News – We hear a lot about “fake news”. Most of it is fake inasmuch as it is invariably written with a slant. The editors choose what stories are important and which ones are not. The secular news is always written from a foundation of a secular, atheistic viewpoint. We shouldn’t stick our head in the sand, but on the other hand, we can cut back on the amount of “news” we think we need and be critical of the stuff we do read.

Fame – celebrity is not real. Its pretend. It is manufactured by publicity people to feed our appetite for gossip and scandal. Accomplishment is real. Focus on real people who have actually accomplished something real and good in their lives. They are very unlikely to be celebrities.

Shopping and Stuff – Okay. The possessions we own are real inasmuch as they are material things. However, Satan does not want us to appreciate them according to their worth. He wants us to use nice stuff to show off, to feel smug about our prosperity and to revel in un necessary and un necessarily expensive luxury. Love all things according to their worth. The rest is vanity and vanity is not real.

Gender Identity – I’m sorry. For the vast majority of people your gender identity aligns with your crotch equipment. This is reality. For most people anything else is a bit of fakery and no amount of fake hormones and surgeries by your favorite Dr. Frankenstein will change this.

False Religion – Any religion that is contrary to reality is false religion. Any religion that is contrary to common sense is false religion. Any religion that condones hypocrisy and humbug is false religion. Any religion that treats people badly while pretending to love God is false religion. Satan loves false religion more than extreme decadence.

Substance Abuse – Satan loves drugs of all kinds because they separate us from reality. Oh yes, street drugs and booze are real bad, porn and sex addiction are nasty too, but don’t let’s forget the other kinds of drugs: ego trips, addiction to success, financial security, rich boys’ toys, property, prosperity and power. These other addictions are not only socially acceptable–they’re praised.

Pride – Pride is a false view of ourselves. Humility is reality.

Self-righteousness – Believing we’re good enough just as we are is not real. God loves us just as we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way

Judging others – putting people into pigeonholes, stereotyping, labelling and excluding: that’s not real. Everyone is more interesting and complex and dignified than the category you put them into. Try to give them the benefit of the doubt and get to know them. That would be much more real and true and kind.

🍂🍃 Time And Seasons, are God's.

in case you needed to hear this today:

🌷 it will get better, even though it feels like u will feel this way forever.

🌼 there are people who found you beautiful or radiant and you never knew it.

🌻 you have survived all your worst days.

💛 bad days are always temporary.

🌹you’re not behind. trust the timing of your life.

🌱 you are growing through this.

🌻 right now, you’re exactly where you are meant to be.

⛅️ every day is a new chance to start again.

🌸 it’s never too late to change, it’s not a race.

🌼 take things one day at a time. you will get there.

1st Samuel 5:1-5

Afilisiti nĩ matahire ithandũkũ rĩa mathani

Makĩrĩtwara hema-inĩ ciao

Makĩrĩiga kũrĩa ngai cia Ndagoni ciakomaga

Ngai cia Njagoni ciaunĩkangire icunjĩ

🎵🎵🎶

Nĩ mĩhianano ĩrĩkũ ĩngĩigananio nawe-Gũtirĩ-ĩ-ĩ

Ĩngĩigananio nawe ĩtiirie hinya waku

Ngai cia Ndagoni ciaunĩkangaga icunjĩ

Lol. Yoko-ono-ing 😂

Some of my favorite tweets amidst Harry & Meghan divorcing the royal family 😂

AMEN!😊😊

I pray the person I end up with never loses their patience and gentleness with me.

Sweeeeeet.... ..serenity.

1:08 am | march 8, 2020

been grieving old things in the past lately. and when i say this, i don’t mean the sad things or the bad things, but the good things. i think when we see the word “past” we automatically assume it’s a negative place that we should no longer look at. i admit that i’ve been trying not to look back because they say it keeps you from moving forward. and it’s true. but i’m finding that it can also be hard to move forward without looking back once in a while. looking back at how far you’ve come. looking back at all the memories and people you’ve left behind. looking back at the dreams your 8-year old self wrote in her diary. looking back at the things you used to do but stopped doing because of failure, criticism, or fear. looking back at old pictures of yourself wearing things that used to make you feel confident but now see it as “cringey.” looking back at the things that used to make you, you. not the things that destroyed you, but the things that molded you. that make you who you are today. i don’t know about you, but i feel like the past should be visited every once in a while to remind us of who we really are or once were—before social media, before adulting, before the relationship, the job, the degree, or even before today. the good things.

so play those old songs again. visit those cringey “what was i wearing” pictures again. watch those high-pitched videos of yourself. read that journal you wrote in during that tough season. and bring those ideas and dreams you left behind back to life.

your past doesn’t need you, but don’t forget how it’s made you. don’t forget the people you’ve lost in touch with or the loved ones you’ve lost along the way. don’t forget the words that uplifted you and sparked a fire in your heart. don’t forget the blessings and miracles God’s done in your life.

life moves faster than we think. so cherish every moment and remember how far you’ve come and all the things God’s done in your life. and remember, that it’s not too late to start over. it’s not too late to try again. it’s not too late to dream again. and it’s never too late to hope again.

may hope fuel in your heart for all there is to come and all that can be.

Nothing else will make you type slower other than your last password attempt.