E- Zine - November 2006

WELCOME to the PROTOCOL PLUS MONTHLY E-ZINE

IN TODAY'S ISSUE:

Tips to Outclass Your Competition - Different style of eating

Do you eat American style or Continental (also known as European style?) Until around the 1840’s, Europeans ate the same as Americans – forks in the rights hand. Then the upper class in England stopped shifting their forks back and forth and began eating with the folk held in the left hand and the knife in the right. In 1853 a French etiquette book encouraged this style of eating and Europeans of all classes began eating this way. So historically, it was the Europeans who changed, not the Americans. The differences are:

American Style:
  • Hold the knife in your right hand, fork in left – cut only one bite of food at a time.
  • Lay the knife down and switch the fork to your right hand.
  • When finished, place the knife and fork in the 10:20 on the clock, “I am finished position.”
  • The tines are always up – for eating, resting, and finished positions.

    Continental Style:
  • Hold the knife and fork the same as American style to cut.
  • Bring the fork, (still in left hand) tines down, to your mouth by twisting your wrist and conveying the fork, still keeping the tines down, to your mouth. Left-handers will love this.
  • When finished, place the knife and fork in the 10:20 “I am finished position.”
  • The tines are always down, for eating, resting and finished positions.

    The next time you dine out, look around and notice if others are eating American or Continental style. You may also see chopsticks being used or notice people eating gracefully with their right hand. Being aware of and accepting different dining styles is socially savvy, shows respect for differences, and is crucial to global success.

    There are many dining rules, and knowing these rules will add to your dining polish and poise. To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson “A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before.” To “do the thing before,” we can arrange a hands-on dining tutorial to practice and learn different styles of dining. Don’t be caught off guard not knowing dining rules. Call 405-341-3216 for a hands-on dining tutorial.

    The Coach’s Corner – Awaken your dormant dream.

    Coaching is about a coach and client working together to help the client clarify, articulate and move toward a goal or outcome. Coaching is not consulting or therapy. A coach is your partner. A bike-riding analogy may help you understand the difference:

    Therapist – helps you deal with and overcome your fear of bike riding.

    Consultant – will tell you all about bikes and give you all the information you need to make a decision on which bike and how to ride it.

    Coach – helps you get on the bike, helps you start cycling, and runs beside you until you’re riding confidently on your own.

    A coach collaborates “with” you by actively listening, asking questions, brainstorming options, offering different perspectives, helping you leverage past successes and making sure your goal is aligned with your values.

    Coaching questions:

  • What goal do I have right now?
  • Is this a winnable goal?
  • How is this goal similar to past goals?
  • Does this goal align with my values?
  • Is the timing right?
  • What supportive environment do I need?
  • What will this goal mean to me when I succeed?
  • Who can support me in achieving this goal?

    If your dream is dormant, a coach can stand beside you and help awaken your dream and move you into action. 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

    "Every experience that you have that doesn’t kill you can make you stronger."
             --- Unknown

    “What memory can I use in this situation that will give me a reference point for the right attitude towards a successful outcome?”
             --- Mike Brescia

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