Greetings, friends,
Happy July! I hope you are enjoying your summer. I just returned from New York City where I had the most amazing meeting with my literary agent, editor, and marketing team at St. Martin's Press. Together, we came up with a preliminary marketing plan for my new book, POISED FOR SUCCESS. And speaking of my new book, I'm extremely proud to share my new book cover with you. Ta-Da!
I hope you love it as much as I do!
Now the countdown begins. In just a few short months my book will be in bookstores everywhere. I'm certain that the first printing will sell out quickly so if you'd like to pre-order your book before it comes out on November 8, here are a couple of "Early Bird" incentives.
If you pre-order one copy of my book between now and November 1, or have already pre-ordered a copy of my book, I will send you an autographed bookplate as a thank-you! E-mail me and include in the subject line "Bought your book."
Preorder five copies and you will receive a free signed, advance reader copy of POISED FOR SUCCESS when it comes out next month. This is a tremendous offer because you will see it before most media outlets do. Just e-mail your Amazon receipt to me and put in the subject line "Five copies." This promotion is good until July 31, 2011. And if you choose to wait until November 8 to purchase the book, I'm still extremely grateful.
Meanwhile, I am busy lining up my speaking engagements for the fall and winter season. If you belong to a women's business group or a civic organization and your members would like a mini-seminar on business etiquette between November 2011 and April 2012, please let me know as soon as possible. There is no charge for a 20-30 minute presentation, as long as my travel expenses are covered.
As always, I appreciate your support and look forward to your e-mails and comments!
To your success,
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How To Navigate a Business Meal
 For many of us, wining and dining clients and customers is a part of our job, whether it's over a power lunch or a formal dinner. Keep these five tidbits in mind whether you're hosting or being hosted at a business meal.
1. Before choosing a restaurant, find out about your guests' food and location preference. Choose a quiet restaurant so you can carry on a conversation without straining to hear one another.
2. Pay for the meals if you are the person who did the inviting. One of the savviest etiquette tricks in the book is to take care of the bill before it arrives at your table. First, arrive at the restaurant early, introduce yourself to the manager or the maître d', and then request that the check not be brought to your table. As the business meal comes to a close, excuse yourself as if you're going to the restroom and pay the bill. If you and your company have a working relationship with a particular restaurant, you may even want to set up a corporate account or call the restaurant ahead of time and give the manager your credit card number over the phone.
3. Eat a little something before you arrive at the restaurant. Focus more on building relationships with customers and clients and less on the food in front of you. Remember: a business meal is more about the business and less about the meal.
4. Start off with some casual chitchat instead of moving into business topics right away. Gradually shift into the purpose of your meeting as the meal progresses. Before dessert arrives, ease into casual conversation once again, so you end the meeting on a relaxed and positive note.
5. Avoid foods that are messy and complicated to eat, like spaghetti with a red meat sauce, barbeque ribs, oversized sandwiches, or lobster in the shell.
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| Crane & Co. Stationery Giveaway
 It's a real treat to open the mailbox and receive a handwritten thank-you note, don't you agree? I'm excited to announce that my friends at Crane & Co. have generously agreed to donate one of three elegant styles of engraved stationery to one of my lucky blog readers.
Crane & Co. is one of the most prestigious stationery companies, with its roots extended to before the American Revolution. From these early times to the present, their reputation for quality, innovation and integrity is unmatched.
To enter this giveaway, visit my blog and tell me what you love most about receiving thank-you notes. The winner will be chosen at random and will win one of three stationery styles. The deadline for comments is midnight on July 19, 2011.
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Featured Webinar:
 Professional Courtesy Essentials for Health Care
Presented by Karen Hickman, certified etiquette and protocol consultant, and moderated by Jacqueline Whitmore
Did you know that nearly one-third of malpractice suits are rooted in bad behavior on the part of staff and/or physicians? Patients may forgive a bad outcome if they feel they have been treated fairly and courteously.
This program can help diffuse difficult situations and help staff members understand that professional courtesy is a critical skill needed to project a patient friendly atmosphere. Move a good practice into the GREAT category. If you are an etiquette consultant or a health care professional this program may be just what you need to broaden your training repertoire while encouraging and teaching professional skills to health care workers.
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011
Time: 3:00pm - 4:15pm Eastern Time
Investment: $60.00 (includes the downloadable recording)
Can't attend the webinar? You may still purchase the recording for $60.00. To order, click the PayPal button below.
All expenses for continuing education taken to maintain and improve professional skills are tax deductible. Contact your accountant for details.
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Reprint Policy
Requests to reproduce my articles for commercial or other public use must be made in writing to info@etiquetteexpert.com.
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Connect With Me!
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Save the Date
Etiquette & Image Consultants' Retreat
October 14-15, 2011
At Jacqueline's home in Palm Beach, Florida
Details coming soon!
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(OpenForum.com) In their early stages, when dedicated office space is unrealistic, unnecessary or too expensive, small businesses and startups tend to frequent coffee shops for their working and meeting needs. It's nice to get away from the home desk, and a nice café can be just the spot for sparking creativity. But with the increasing amount of coffeehouse commuters, the guidelines for what's appropriate and what's downright obnoxious can be a bit foggy.
