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Chris Ray’s blog, Interactively Speaking, posted a link to an online BBC survey that tests your ability to detect fake smiles. Take the test! It’s amazing. And it makes you think twice about every time you’ve felt the sensation that someone wasn’t really smiling. This topic is also has relevance to making an UNFORGETTABLE™ first impression – not just a “good” first impression. LET ME ASK YA THIS… How…

The Second Domain of Approachability™ is: capable of being reached. In other words… If you have your business cards with you at all times, If you include email signatures at the end of your letters, If you cross reference contact information on all materials and websites, And if you return your calls and messages as soon as you can, You are capable of being reached. You are approachable. Your…

Cell Phone Etiquette: Debating the Caller ID. I’ve done quite a bit of research on this topic, including CNN, Monster.com, and this great list of cell phone etiquette resources. Still, nothing is more frustrating than to be on the other end of the “Caller ID Debate.” If you’re not familiar with this atrocity, here are the four steps. (1) Your conversation partner gives you the “just a minute” index…

There’s only one feeling worse that forgetting someone: devaluing someone. In your organization, club, business or association – there are bound to be dozens, possibly even hundreds of members you’ve never met. That’s okay. You can’t keep a tab on everybody. People come in and out of organizations all the time, and not everyone comes to every meeting. Beware of questions like, “Are you a new member?” Don’t assume…

I was at a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium when I saw a woman wearing this exact shirt. I loved it. I went right up to her and complimented it. She told me where to buy the shirt, and the next day I went online and ordered one! Fast forward two weeks. Around 1:00 AM when most patrons of the bar were unable to engage in interesting and stimulating…

Like I always tell people, “You probably wouldn’t want to wear a nametag all the time because of all the #@$% you’d have to put up with.” In fact, the disclaimer I have at the bottom of my website reads the following: Front Porch Productions does not recommend or encourage all people to wear nametags. Although nametags can be a successful tool for many as a means through which…

In October of 2003 I joined my local Chamber of Commerce. At my first meeting I met the former Fire Chief of St. Louis. His friendliness welcomed me into the group and he introduced me to several new people – a true sign of networking effectiveness. No less than six months later, I found myself in a “research rut.” I was scheduled to give a speech to the Indianapolis…

My flight was returning to St. Louis from a National Speakers Association convention in Phoenix. I was trying hard to concentrate on some writing, when, out of nowhere, the flight attendant walked up to me, slapped my chest/nametag, laughed and walked away! And because I was deeply immersed in my creative thoughts – I jumped so high I nearly hit my head on the television screen! But I didn’t…

Have you ever seen these stickers on Jeeps? If so, you probably respond the same way I do: I don’t get it. Exactly. Non-Jeep owners have no idea what these stickers mean. But, recently I got the inside track on this unwritten Jeep rule thanks to my cousin Justin, Jeep Driver Extraordinaire. For years, online stores, shops, catalogues and dealers have encouraged Jeep owners to show their pride and…

(This amazing image drawn by Jo) I’ll never forget my lunch with Carol and Susan. We went out to a restaurant in downtown St. Louis after attending a seminar on volunteerism. Afterwards, I decided to walk them to the nearby movie theater even though I was unable to stick around for the film. As we approached, I noticed the manager was ripping tickets at the entrance. That was my…