Scoping Out the Political Landscape

January 13, 2015February 11, 2018Leave a comment

"Chess, insanity and politics have always been inextricably
connected." ~ Sarah Hurst

Political dynamics begin in infancy and continue to pre-school. They intensify in elementary, middle and high school (for students and faculty/staff), and flourish on the college campus (for students as well as faculty and staff), and in the workplace. Politics are an integral part of our civilization. Thus, it's the wise person who recognizes and deals with the various political landscapes of his or her life. And very often navigating political situations can resemble a Chess game. To be clear, I am not an expert Chess player, having only tried my hand at it once or twice in my youth; but I am an expert on office politics, having played that game for several decades! And, having watched a few Chess games in my time I do see the similarities between it and the game of politics.

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Black Friday

December 2, 2014February 25, 20182 Comments

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
~ Roy L. Smith

Guest Post by Santa Claus

This post is for all the Virginias and everyone else who share my concern about Christmas decorations and paraphernalia in stores, restaurants, streets and even houses before other holidays have been celebrated, including Halloween. And now our beloved Thanksgiving Day is being turned into a bargain shopping day! In my humble opinion, that’s just plain wrong.

Season’s Greetings!

December 24, 2013February 18, 20182 Comments

"Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect." -Oren Arnold I am spending Christmas with my family and friends and will resume my blogging next week. In the meantime, whichever holiday … Continue reading Season’s Greetings!

“Giving Tuesday” – 10 Options

December 3, 2013February 25, 2018Leave a comment

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
~ attributed to Winston Churchill

The establishment last year of “Giving Tuesday” is the grassroots brainchild of the renowned 92nd Street Y in New York City. The premise of the day is that people give their time, service and money to help organizations that help others and is based on the concept of tikkun olam, a Hebrew expression which in English means, “repairing the world.”

Citizenship Etiquette

November 12, 2013March 16, 2018Leave a comment

“No good deed goes unpunished.” ~ Clare Booth Luce

The scene is last Tuesday, November 5th, which was Election Day in the U.S. The location is a local campaign office of a candidate for public office. The time is mid-Afternoon. A volunteer is placing “Get Out The Vote!” calls to local residents who are members of her political party and who are likely to vote for her candidate. She is upbeat and motivated, and there is warmth and a smile in her voice.

National Etiquette Week 2013

May 15, 2013March 14, 2018Leave a comment

“O, Times! O, Manners! It is my opinion
That you are changing sadly your dominion
I mean the reign of manners hath long ceased,
For men have none at all, or bad at least…

~ Edgar Allan Poe, Poetry, Tales and Selected Essays

If Mr. Poe was bemoaning the decline of manners in the 19^th Century, perhaps there has always been an element of incivility in society. We are most certainly hearing an outcry about the widespread lack of common courtesy in the early 21^st Century. However, we know now, as the learned knew back then, that those who master etiquette skills generally are more successful in their social and business lives.

And, now there is something in which Mr. Poe most likely would have been happy to participate: National Etiquette Week (NEW), which is being observed during this week, May 13-17.

Dining Etiquette Series – The Wait Staff

February 12, 2013March 13, 20182 Comments

“It's hard to get a dozen CEOs to agree about anything, but all interviewed agree with the Waiter Rule…How others treat the CEO says nothing, they say. But how others treat the waiter is like a magical window into the soul.” ~ USA Today

Whether you’re the host or guest at a business or social function at a restaurant, corporate dining room, banquet hall or your own home, your strongest partnership in such an endeavor will be with the wait staff. As the quote above attests, you’ll be judged by the way you relate to and treat the wait staff.