E- Zine - May 2007 WELCOME to the PROTOCOL PLUS MONTHLY E-ZINE IN TODAY'S ISSUE: Tips to Outclass Your Competition - Thank You Courtesies The Coach’s Corner – Does complaining serve a purpose? Quotes of the Month Tips to Outclass Your Competition - Thank You Courtesies When someone does something nice for you, you thank them. A written thank you note is a more formal and special way to say thank you. Taking the time to write a well thought out thank you note makes the receiver feel special. Keep the following steps in mind when writing thank you notes: A note from the heart is much better than no note. Don’t worry about perfection. Keep classy stationery on hand so you can write a thank you at any time. A hand-written card says so much more than e-mail and gives personal attention to the recipient. Send thank you notes as quickly as possible – within 48 hours in most instances. Keep it short. A few sentences are all that is necessary. Always make specific reference to the gift. “Thank you so much for the red scarf. I love accessorizing with scarves.” Mention the gift’s usefulness. “This scarf looks perfect with my new beige blouse and I will remember you each time I wear it.” If you’re writing to thank someone for an interview, keep it professional and remember that a card is more permanent and may stay on their desk or in your folder. What better way to be remembered when they review interviewees? A heartfelt thank-you note means a lot to the receiver. If you have children, encourage them to develop this habit from a young age. It is the little things that count and thank-you notes are a way for you to show appreciation and to be remembered for your special touch. Simple courtesies can make all the difference in your success. If you would like to bring a user-friendly reminder of the rules of protocol to your organization, call 405-341-3216 today. My Professional Protocol Series has many choices to meet your needs. The Coach’s Corner – Does complaining serve a purpose? Complaining – we all do it. It doesn’t solve anything, or does it? Have you ever gotten to the point where you got tired of listening to your own complaining words? Sometimes you have to get to this point before you become aware that something has to change and you are the only one who has the power to make the change. It is at this point that you may feel stuck and continue the complaining – because you don’t know which way to turn. I recently heard “In this moment are you choosing your fear or in this moment are you choosing your greatness.” This is the moment where you must choose your greatness to move yourself into action. Coaching questions: What do I complain about a lot? What can I do about the situation? What can I do to accept the situation if it cannot change? What can I change about myself to minimize the situation? The Serenity Prayer: Lord grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot change; The Courage to change the things I can; And the Wisdom to know the difference. As your coach, I listen when you need to talk things through. Often, just putting things on the table releases much of the emotionally chaos. Examining other perspectives can also help you see things differently. If you want to learn from and move beyond a situation so it no longer zaps your energy, call today for your no-obligation, coaching session. This 30-minute confidential session will give you the experience of coaching. To schedule your session, call 405-341-3216. Quotes of the Month “A home seldom rises above the level of the woman who lives there.”          --- Dr. Pierce Harris “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”          --- Rumi Back to News & Articles