In yesterdays post Phone Greetings That Make a Positive Impression I shared with you some simple tips about how to make a positive impression when you greet people over the phone. Today’s lesson will focus on the strategies for making a good impression when you meet and greet people in person.

1. When you greet people in person for the first time—To make a positive first impression when meeting new people, include the following as part of your greeting: a warm smile, an introduction that includes your first and last name, a welcoming comment, direct eye contact and a firm handshake, if appropriate. I also recommend repeating the person’s name. For instance, “It’s very nice to meet you Bob.”….read more

In today’s lesson I will share with you some of the little things I learned years ago about how to properly introduce yourself over the phone. Once again, this is an opportunity to make an impact. We make judgments about people the first time we see OR hear them. Your tone of voice and the words you use will create an impression. Make sure it is a positive one.

Calling a place of business

When you call a business or organization and someone other than the person you are calling answers the phone, I recommend introducing yourself in the following manner: “Hi my name is Todd Smith. May I please speak with Katy Williams?”….read more

William James, well-known psychologist and philosopher, said, “The deepest principle of human nature is a craving to be appreciated.” If we are honest with ourselves, we all want and need to feel valued for who we are and recognized for our contributions and accomplishments. It’s important for us to know that we have made a difference in someone’s life.

If a person takes the time to express their heart-felt appreciation for something we have done, it boosts our spirit, passion, and purpose. It builds our self-confidence, self-esteem and our entire self-image. It gives us energy and motivation to work harder and do more….read more

More than 20 years ago I heard a story about one of the most dominating martial arts champions of the time. While I can’t recall his name, I will never forget what he said. When asked how he achieved such dominance, he described the following scenario. If he became physically exhausted during a fight, he knew there was a good chance his competitor felt the same way. At this point of extreme fatigue, he fired himself up and attacked his competitor with every ounce of strength he could possibly draw from his body.

This martial arts champion said the key to his success was his mental strength and strategy to attack during his competitor’s moment of weakness. Since hearing this story I have applied his way of thinking to my professional career as well as playing and coaching sports….read more

I am feeling heaviness in the air. I am not sure if it’s because of our prolonged recessionary period, the fact that so many people are struggling financially, the long cold winter or a combination of all of the above. But whatever the reasons are, I feel it’s time to put things in perspective and focus on our blessings.

If you are going through a challenging period of time in your life, I bet the woman in the attached photo would trade with you in a heartbeat. Take a couple of minutes and imagine her life: sleeping on the ground every night trying to keep her children warm; no access to clean drinking water; standing in long lines for food; getting soaked every time it rains; and not having a change of clothes, toilet paper or a toothbrush.

Yes…your life may not be turning out exactly how you envisioned it would. But if you are reading or listening to this on your computer, you have it a whole lot better than more than five billion people who don’t have this simple luxury…read more

In What’s Your Brand? I pointed out that just as products carry a brand, people also carry a brand. Branding is how the world sees you; the impression you make on others; the values you stand for; the qualities that mold your personality; and the characteristics that make you stand out from the crowd.

This lesson will focus on a significant component of your overall brand—your online presence. In today’s world, you can be assured that every potential employer, prospective client and college admissions officer will search the Internet to learn as much as they can about you. It’s even likely that someone would check you out before asking you for a date. You can be assured that what they find will influence their opinion of you and what they learn can either close doors or open up opportunities….read more