BroadPeak Executive Forum

Chicago Urban League ProjectNEXT - The Next Big Thing for Minority Entrepreneurs

Earlier this week, in my capacity as Vice President of Marketing for BroadPeak Collaborative, I attended the kick-off luncheon for the Chicago Urban League's forward- thinking new project called ProjectNEXT. The last time I felt that much energy and anticipation in a room was when I kicked off Money Smart Week at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago - and it felt great!

Under the high-energy and progressive leadership of CEO Cheryle Jackson, the Chicago Urban League is shifting from a social services provider model to an economic development model which, I think, is a stroke of genius on the part of Ms. Jackson. Project NEXT is a unique program in which minority entrepreneurs are mentored and given resources that will jump-start the growth of their companies. The program is highly competitive - 150 entrepreneurs applied for 16 spots in the program. And the program is only in its first year. I wonder how many business owners will apply next year or the year after? Seems to me that there is a huge demand for this program and I would guess that applications will increase exponentially over time.

A few professional service firms, including BroadPeak, have been selected by the Urban League to offer accounting, finance, analytics, management training/coaching, and other key services to the selected business owners. We are extremely honored and excited to have been chosen to participate in this program and we anticipate that the success in Chicago will lead to a nation-wide rollout.

Back to the luncheon.  I got to sit next to John Rogers, CEO of Ariel Mutual Funds and a member of the Board of the Chicago Urban League, a man I have admired for years. In addition to founding a hugely successful business John created the Ariel Community Academy in Chicago which is teaching kids about investing, thus developing hundreds of young minds who think that financial smarts are cool. (In contrast to popular singers, actors, and rappers whose conspicuous consumption can be enticing to youngsters.) Needless to say I was excited to get to talk to Mr. Rogers, in fact I was a little star struck. He didn't disappoint - he was modest, intelligent, and thoughtful in his remarks and he is clearly passionate about his work. It's always exciting to meet someone you idolize and, somehow, I managed not to spill food on myself or say anything stupid during lunch.

The keynote speaker for the event was Jim Reynolds, founder and CEO of Loop Capital, a Chicago-based investment bank. Mr. Reynolds was a dynamic, funny, and interesting speaker who managed to share some valuable advice about how to start a successful company. The difference, he said, between entrepreneurs who want to be successful (who doesn't?) and those who really "get it" is twofold: vision and focus. Vision and focus are the essential ingredients to success when starting your own business.

Mr. Reynolds discussed the fact that successful entrepreneurs, no matter what they are doing, are always promoting their businesses. His point was that as a successful entrepreneur you should always be thinking about your business and selling yourself. If you meet someone new, join a club, or speak at an event, you should always be ready to talk about your business, sell a product, or promote yourself, if only by behaving with class and dignity.

I learned a lot from Mr. Reynolds comments at lunch but it also occurred to me that as he described what it takes to succeed in business he was also describing Cheryle Jackson. Ms. Jackson has been at the helm of the Chicago Urban League for only a year but in that short time she has completely reshaped the vision of the organization, energized a talented staff, and has maintained an intense focus on the new mission that she set. She is a successful entrepreneur within an established organization. Like I said at the start of this post, it has been a long time since I have felt that much energy in a room and since I have been that impressed with a program.

I am thrilled that BroadPeak is part of ProjectNEXT but I am also excited that a project like NEXT has been born. It's rare that a not-for-profit can attract a leader who really understands how to create lasting and meaningful changes in the community. Too often organizations take the easy and non-controversial path of offering bland and impactless programs that don't offend, don't take risks, and don't have an impact.

Ms. Jackson and her team have put their reputations on the line with Project NEXT - if it were to fail then the naysayers in the world would be happy to armchair quarterback her mistakes and to say things like, "We never should have strayed from our original mission". ProjectNEXT won't fail, of that I am sure, but my point is that it takes a lot of guts to change the direction of an organization and to create programs with metrics and deliverables and the possibility of truly creating positive change in the world.

If you haven't heard of ProjectNEXT, the Chicago Urban League, or Cheryle Jackson click here to check out the Urban League website.

Don't Respond to Email First Thing in the Morning

Recently I discovered the blog of Tim Ferriss which I have really been enjoying. Tim is the author of "The 4 Hour Workweek".  Tim's blog lists 9 habits we should either break or not adopt in the first place. The most compelling of the 9 bad habits he discusses is, "checking email first thing in the morning or last thing at night."

If checking email first thing in the morning and last thing at night is a bad habit then I am a world-class offender. I read Tim's rationale for not checking email at these times and he says, "The former scrambles your priorities and plans for the day, and the latter just gives you insomnia. E-mail can wait until 10am, after you’ve completed at least one of your critical to-do items…" I think that Tim is right about early morning or late night emailing - it screws up your schedule.

I can't tell you how many times I have not gone to the gym in the morning because I ran out of time because I was answering email. That is a bad habit in and of itself. Also there have been many nights when I was late getting to bed or just plain couldn't sleep because I was so busy answering email. My excuse is that I feel that I need to respond to clients as quickly as possible. But, the reality is that, I need to be a little more selfish with my time so that I can get enough exercise and enough sleep to be as productive as I can be during the day. So, I am going to stop my early morning email-and-diet-coke routine immediately and use that time to head to the gym instead! Thanks Tim Farriss for the great insights.

10 Financial Ratios Every Business Owner Needs to Know

For most small business owners, the task of producing basic financial information can be taxing (no pun intended!). Financial experts have created ratios for everything from Altman’s Z-Score to Predict Bankruptcy to Growth in Productivity and Knowledge Assets.  Here are the 10 essential ratios, out of      the literally hundreds of different ratios that have been developed, you absolutely need to know and measure to understand the financial health of your company.       

1. Gross Profit Margin Ratio measures profit by product or group of products before any other costs such as labor or overhead. The calculation is:

                                                Gross Profit Margin = Gross Profit/Sales       

A low gross profit margin indicates that a company is unable to control its production costs.      

2. Pre-Tax Profit Margin Ratio measures the overall profitability of your business.  It is your profit (or       loss) after all expenses except income taxes divided by your revenue.  The calculation is:      

Pre-Tax Profit Margin = Net Profit Before Taxes/Sales      

A low pre-tax profit margin provides an additional clue to a company’s cost structure, especially when used in conjunction with a Gross Profit Margin Ratio.      

3. Capacity measures the amount of revenue or business you can do given your physical plant or             other constraints such as hours of operation or number of employees.   The variables change depending upon the industry and the business stage (startup, mature, etc.) of your company. This calculation should be customized and reviewed periodically to make sure it is accurate.

4. Utilization ratio measures how much business or revenue you are actually doing divided by your             capacity. The calculation is:      

Utilization Ratio = Sales/Capacity      

This ratio can be compared to competitors within the industry to gauge your company’s efficiency.    

5. Break Even is the point at which sales equals expenses. It is the amount of revenue you need to keep the doors open and the lights on. The calculation is:      

Break Even = Fixed Costs/Gross Margin Percentage      

It is important to include the estimated monthly amount of items that are normally paid on quarterly or annual basis. There are a number of ways to lower your break-even through cost controls or revenue enhancement.      

6. Operating Cash Flow Ratio measures a company’s ability to generate the revenue to meet its current liabilities. It is the amount of money that falls to your bottom line for every dollar of business or revenue after you have broken even. The calculation is:      

OCFR = Cash Flow From Operations/Current Liabilities      

The purpose of this ratio is to assess whether a company’s normal operations are generating enough cash to cover its current liabilities.   If the ratio falls below 1.0, then the company is not generating enough cash to meet its current obligations.    

7. Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) measures, in terms of days, the age of a company’s accounts receivable and the average time it takes to turn the receivables into cash.   In short, DSO measures the quality of your accounts receivables.    The calculation is:      

DSO = (Total Receivables/Total Credit Sales for Period)  x Number of Days

This number is often compared to industry and company averages, as well  as your current sales terms (e.g., Net 30).       

8. Inventory Turnover measures how many times you turn over your product inventory in a specific         period.  It is best calculated as:      

Inventory Turnover = Cost of Goods Sold/Average Inventory      

This ratio should be compared against industry averages. A low turnover implies poor sales and excess inventory. A high ratio implies either strong sales or ineffective buying.      

9. Debt to equity ratio measures who truly “owns” your business, you or your creditors. The calculation is:      

Debt to Equity Ratio = Short Term Debt + Long Term           Debt
                               Total           Shareholder’s           Equity      

The upper acceptable limit is usually 2:1 or 2. The higher the ratio, the more difficulty a company has in paying interest and principal on their current debt.      

10. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio measures the risk involved in ability to satisfy fixed costs financing expenses, such as interest and leases. The calculation is:      

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio = EBIT + Fixed Charge           (Before Taxes)
                                                          Fixed         Charge (Before Taxes) + Interest      

EBIT stands for earnings (profit) before income taxes and interest payments. The fixed charge is the line item (e.g., lease expense, interest expense, etc.). This will often be a loan reporting covenant for bank loans.    

If you are having trouble calculating any of the above ratios or are finding that your company is not performing to your expectations, contact BroadPeak for a free, no obligation assessment of how we can improve thefinancial and operational health of your company.             

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These ratios were compiled by Tom Hrinowich, President, BroadPeak Collaborative.  You can find other useful resources on the BroadPeak Small Business Resource Center.

10 Tips to Help You Prepare for A Fall Job Search During the Summer

It's Memorial Day weekend which is a sign that summer is literally around the corner. Summer, historically, isn't the best time to land a new job but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't start getting ready for a job search in the fall. If you have been thinking of entering the job market spend the summer enjoying the weather and having fun with your family but also dedicate a little bit of time to preparing to start your search in earnest this fall.

Here are a few tips to help you get ready to start your job search:

1. Update your resume. If you find this difficult to do on your own get professional help but make sure that your resume is a great tool that you can use to sell your skills.

2. Consider going back to school. If you haven't finished your undergraduate degree spend time this summer researching alternatives including online programs. A college degree is a must in an ever-more-competitive job market. If you have a college degree and have thought about graduate school, spend the summer taking preparatory courses and filling out graduate school applications for fall or winter admissions.

3. Think about what you really want to spend your time doing. Are you passionate about something other than what you are getting paid to do? Spend your summer doing a little soul searching to figure out what you really want to do. It's worth the time to figure out what makes you happy. We spend a lot of time at work and it's more fun if you really love what you do.

4. Research. Research potential careers in other industries if they interest you. Or, if you are thinking of starting your own company do your homework about starting a new business, raising capital, and writing a business plan. If, after you have done the research, you decide that entrepreneurship isn't for you, at least you can launch a full fledged job search in the fall.

5. Investigate online tools to help in your search. There are many great tools like Jibber Jobber and LinkedIn to help you manage a job search...find out what is out there and start making them work for you.  BroadPeak can get you a discount on Jibber Jobber's premium services. Ask Tom or Denise about the discount.

6. Consider a career coach. If you are having trouble figuring out how to navigate a job search or if you just need someone to talk to about potential career options call a good career coach. 

7. Talk to your boss. Find out how you are doing at work by starting a dialogue with your boss about your performance. Interested in a promotion? Summer is a great time to put together a roadmap that will take you to the top of the organization.

8. Get in shape. There is nothing like getting yourself in top physical condition to get yourself motivated about putting on an interview suit and meeting new people. Plus you will have more energy and a positive frame of mind as you embark upon the journey toward a new job.

9. Meet recruiters. Get to know a few recruiters in your field (like Tom Hrinowich and Denise Martorano). Offer to meet them for coffee so you can get to know the person on the other end of the phone. Recruiters are people too and if you develop a good relationship with one you will get better service and more open communication.

10. Have fun. Spend time with loved ones, run a 5K, raise money for your favorite charity, get involved in a community event, go to the beach, plant a garden full of flowers...whatever floats your boat. People who have fulfilling lives outside of work have more to talk about with acquaintances and are more appealing job candidates. Take care of yourself and your family and you will have a great attitude when you get ready for the job search!

Have a happy memorial day and a wonderful summer!

This was orignially posted at the Ultimate Resumes Blog

Tips For Writing the Ultimate Resume

Last night I was fortunate to be able to present a webcast to students at Cardean University & Ellis College on the topic of resume writing. Based, in part, on my presentation, and based in part in the questions that the students asked last night I thought I would write a list of 10 tips for writing a great resume. This is not an exclusive list but it will get you started in the right direction if you need to write or update your resume.

1. Remember that your resume tells a story - think of it like a product brochure for the product "You, Inc."

2. Organize the document in a way that it is easy to navigate.  Put company names, your titles for each job, and dates in the same location for each job so that a casual reader can easily see where you have been and what you have been doing during your career.

3. Include a little bit (a couple of sentences) to describe each employer for whom you have worked. By doing this, you don't have to wonder if recruiters will have heard of that great start-up you worked for two years ago. Include ticker symbols and, if available, web addresses.

4. Focus on your accomplishments. Use bullets to emphasize your accomplishments in each job you have held. The best accomplishments are those that are quantifiable but any will do. Your accomplishments are what will get you hired.

5. Include some (but not a lot of) background about each job you have held. For your accomplishments to mean anything you need to include a short overview of your job duties when describing each job you have held. Put the background in paragraph form and include information like size of budget you managed, how many people reported to you, and a couple of sentences that describe what you were responsible for doing all day.

6. Include information about volunteer or civic organizations with which you are affiliated. Board memberships and leadership roles are always good to mention. Include dates of your involvement too.

7. Include, but be selective about, your technical skills. Generally, you don't need to mention that you are "proficient with Microsoft Word" because it is generally assumed that anyone hired into a professional environment these days knows the basics of the Microsoft Office suite. However, if you are a JAVA programmer or are an expert in a specialized software relevant to your field such as SAP or JD Edwards make sure to include that.

8. Include separate sections for for notable accomplishments such as patents that you hold, awards, media appearances, publications, or books you have written.  Big accomplishments deserve their own sections.

9. You don't have to include an "Objective" or "Summary" section at the top of your resume and if you do make sure it says something meaningful. Generic language that says something about your desire to work for "an industry leader" is meaningless and just takes up space on the page that you could be using to describe what a star you are in your field.

10. Proofread!! Use Spellcheck, check for grammar, punctuation, and readability. Grammatical and spelling errors will probably disqualify you from any job immediately. If the resume is hard to navigate or difficult to understand, a recruiter or hiring manager may just skip your resume in favor of one that is easier to read.

If you follow those 10 tips you will be on your way to having a resume that will help you to land the job of your dreams!  If you would like help in writing your resume contact Liz at either www.ultimate-resumes.com or lhandlin@broadpeak.us

Eight Tips For Creating Thoughtful Web Content That Reaches Buyers Directly

I started reading a terrific blog the other day and I thought I would share one of the posts.  The blog is called Web Ink Now and it is written by David Meerman Scott, author of New Rules of Marketing and PR.  You can read the post below or you can click over to his blog...he has a lot of great information on marketing, public relations, and reaching customers via the web.  Check it out.

Eight Quick Tips to create thoughtful Web content to reach buyers directly

As many smart marketers know, a well crafted white paper, e-book, or Webinar contributes to an organization's positive reputation by setting it apart in the marketplace of ideas. This form of thought leadership based Web content brands a company, a consultant, or a nonprofit as an expert and as a trusted resource.

While each media for getting your thought leadership content into the marketplace of ideas is different, they share some common considerations:

Quick Tip #1: Most importantly—Do not write about your company and your products. Thought leadership content is designed to solve buyer problems or answer questions and to show that you and your organization are smart and worth doing business with. This type of marketing and PR technique is not a brochure or sales pitch. Thought leadership is not advertising.

Quick Tip #2: Define your organizational goals first. Do you want to drive revenue? Get people to donate money to your organization? Encourage people to buy something?

Quick Tip # 3: Based on your goals, decide if you want to provide the content for free and without any registration (you will get many more people to use the content, but you won’t know who they are) or if you want to include some kind of registration mechanism (much lower response rates, but you build a contact list).

Quick Tip #4: Think like a publisher by understanding your audience. Consider what market problems your buyer personas are faced with and develop topics that appeal to them.

Quick Tip #5: Write for your audience. Use examples and stories. Make it interesting.

Quick Tip #6: Choose a great title that grabs attention. Use subtitles to describe what the content will deliver.

Quick Tip #7: Promote the effort like crazy. Offer the content on your site with easy-to-find links. Add a link to employees’ e-mail signatures, and get partners to offer links as well.

Quick Tip #8: To drive the viral marketing effects, alert appropriate reporters, bloggers, and analysts that the content is available and send them a download link.

As many smart marketers know, a well crafted white paper, e-book, or Webinar contributes to an organization's positive reputation by setting it apart in the marketplace of ideas. This form of thought leadership based Web content brands a company, a consultant, or a nonprofit as an expert and as a trusted resource.

While each media for getting your thought leadership content into the marketplace of ideas is different, they share some common considerations:

Quick Tip #1: Most importantly—Do not write about your company and your products. Thought leadership content is designed to solve buyer problems or answer questions and to show that you and your organization are smart and worth doing business with. This type of marketing and PR technique is not a brochure or sales pitch. Thought leadership is not advertising.

Quick Tip #2: Define your organizational goals first. Do you want to drive revenue? Get people to donate money to your organization? Encourage people to buy something?

Quick Tip # 3: Based on your goals, decide if you want to provide the content for free and without any registration (you will get many more people to use the content, but you won’t know who they are) or if you want to include some kind of registration mechanism (much lower response rates, but you build a contact list).

Quick Tip #4: Think like a publisher by understanding your audience. Consider what market problems your buyer personas are faced with and develop topics that appeal to them.

Quick Tip #5: Write for your audience. Use examples and stories. Make it interesting.

Quick Tip #6: Choose a great title that grabs attention. Use subtitles to describe what the content will deliver.

Quick Tip #7: Promote the effort like crazy. Offer the content on your site with easy-to-find links. Add a link to employees’ e-mail signatures, and get partners to offer links as well.

Quick Tip #8: To drive the viral marketing effects, alert appropriate reporters, bloggers, and analysts that the content is available and send them a download link.

Possible Layoffs At Citigroup Announced

Today's Wall Street Journal features an article that states that Citigroup may layoff as many as 15,000 employees. The article said, "Citigroup Inc. executives are putting the finishing touches on a restructuring plan that is likely to involve around 15,000 job cuts and a charge against earnings of more than $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter".

The article goes on to say that, "While the plan isn't final, Mr. Druskin is contemplating a roughly 5% reduction in Citigroup's world-wide work force of 327,000, according to people familiar with the matter. One possibility is to reduce jobs by not replacing some of the 30,000 to 50,000 Citigroup employees who leave the company each year, one such person said".

Working for a publicly traded company has its benefits such as stock options, ESPPs, and great benefits. However, the downside of working for a public company is that it's management team answers to stockholders who can be impatient and/or difficult. "Last summer, Citigroup's largest individual shareholder, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, demanded that the company take "draconian" steps to reduce expenses. Mr. Prince earlier this year traveled to Saudi Arabia and met with Prince Alwaleed at his desert camp in Riyadh, where they discussed Citigroup's recent performance. The prince said in a statement that "our confidence in Citigroup is strong."

The company's higher expenses have stemmed largely from Citigroup's pouring more money into building new branches and upgrading its technology. Citigroup aggressively expanded its presence in Asia and Latin America last year, thus operating expenses at its giant international consumer arm increased 18% to $11.2 billion.

If you are currently employed by Citigroup but are concerned about your job security please update your resume and start thinking about how you will organize your job search if and when that becomes necessary. When you have updated your resume please contact a recruiter at BroadPeak so that we can start working with you to help you to secure a new job.  We are here to help you whenever you decide that it is time to find a new job yourself or when you need to hire top financial talent.

What Is Your Value Proposition?

Yesterday I was fortunate to be able to participate in a teleseminar hosted by Jill Konrath, author of the blog Selling to Big Companies. Jill invited me to attend the teleseminar as her guest...thank you Jill!

The first thing you need to understand is that Jill is a super-saleswoman so she really knows her stuff. The second is that selling is exactly what job seekers should be doing - selling themselves. So, this seminar was a wonderful source of information for sales people, marketing executives, and job seekers alike.

The key take-away from the seminar is simple: business today is competitive and fast paced so if you want the opportunity to sell your product you need to lead with your value proposition.

There was a time when the sales process included a longer runway during which a salesperson had the opportunity to expound upon the pros of his/her company, product, or process before going on to describe to his/her potential client how the product would directly benefit his/her organization. Those days are long gone.

Jill explained that today's executives are thinking about the bottom line and achieving goals at all times. So, if you, as salesperson or job seeker, want to get your foot in the door you have to lead with, "My product will increase your revenue by 30%" or "This product will reduce your costs by 20%"

The same thing applies to job seekers. Your "elevator speech" should start with, "I can deliver results of ______" rather than focusing on your years of experience, elite education, or depth of knowledge. Once you pique a manager's interest with your value proposition you will have the opportunity to present your whole pitch.

These days, "what can you do for me" is the first question on every executives' mind. If you can answer that question up front, you will have the opportunity to present a more complete picture of your background later.

What is the value proposition that you offer to a potential employer?

I would encourage every job seeker to read Jill Konrath's blog. Her blog is focused on sales but she offers is useful for job seekers who wish to land the jobs of their dreams in a highly competitive environment.

A Website You Should Know About: Mannersmith

About a year ago I became acquainted with Jodi R.R. Smith, the founder of Mannersmith. Jodi consults with individuals and corporations on etiquette issues and has started to generate a lot of (much deserved) attention. Jodi wrote a book for women on modern manners as well which she was kind enough to send me.  She has also written a book on manners for men. I would advise everyone to read her books.

Jodi has a montly newsletter that I subscribe to and she always covers interesting etiquette issues. I have copied her most recent newsletter into this blog so you can read it. If you are interested in etiquette I would encourage you to sign up for her newsletter and check out the Mannersmith website. It never hurts to learn more about manners!

Culinary Conundrums
Mannersmith Newsletter 70 / March 2007
Years ago, when Mannersmith was in its infancy, I was invited to dinner by a woman who was very interested in my business. She chose a lovely restaurant and I eagerly anticipated the interaction. During our first course, she enthusiastically shared her love of etiquette as well as a laundry list of her pet peeves. I still remember the meal so clearly. As she listed off rude behaviors, she punctuated her conversation by picking up pieces of lettuce from her salad and shoving them into her mouth. At first, I thought she was pulling my leg. But it quickly became evident this was how she preferred to eat her salad, sticky fingers and all. I was grateful she chewed with her mouth shut! That dinner taught me two things: First, that just as in the field of ethics, in etiquette we judge ourselves by our best intentions and others by their last worst act. And second, that well-educated, successful individuals think they have a better understand of dining skills than they actually do.

Here is a quick quiz, true or false, regarding gracious dining:

1. _____  There is a great etiquette debate as to when to place your napkin on your lap.

2. _____  The symmetry of dining only extends to the place settings.

3. _____  How the fork and knife are positioned sends silent signals to the wait staff.

4. _____  Other cultures wonder why Americans have our hands in our laps.

5. _____  Polite people pay the bill at the table at the end of the meal.

How did you do?

1. True, there is a great etiquette debate regarding your napkin. There are some consultants who recommend taking your napkin and placing it on your lap as soon as you arrive at the table. The more modern approach is to wait until everyone is seated before removing your napkin. Waiting allows the table to remain untouched and elegant until all have arrived. Additionally, should you need to rise as others join the table, you need not worry about your napkin falling from your lap to the floor or grasping your unfolded napkin in your hand like a child's security blanket.

2. False, the symmetry of dining has many corollaries, including place settings and ordering. The symmetry of dining states that when looking at the table, everyone's place settings have the same dining implements in the same location. (Another reason to wait before taking your napkin!) This not only looks better, but it allows you, your fellow diners and the wait staff to know what belongs to each person. This means you are not allowed to take your bread plate and move it closer to you in between courses! To keep the symmetry you should also order the same number of courses and same number of drinks as your fellow diners. Please note, this does not require you to match anyone's alcohol intake. You must order a drink, however, and a soft drink is perfectly acceptable.

3. True, where you place your fork and knife signals the wait staff as to where you are in the meal. Remembering that once a utensil touches food it is never to touch the tablecloth again means you need to know where to put your fork and knife. Imagine your plate is the face of a clock. An inverted "v," with the fork on the left - tines near the 12 and handle at the 8 - and the knife on the right - blade near the 12 and the handle at the 4 , indicates you are still eating. Whereas the fork and knife parallel on the right of your plate indicates that you are finished.

4. True, in America, we are taught that while at the table, when we are not eating, our hands belong in our laps. Just about everywhere else in the world, they wonder what we are doing down there. Across cultures, humans become very wary when we can not see someone else's hands. Even if you are not about to embark upon a world-wide vacation tomorrow, do practice resting your wrists on the table's edge so that your hands remain in sight.

5. False, the most uncomfortable portion of a meal is when the bill is presented to the table. When you are having a casual bite with friends, there really is no need for concern. If you are entertaining for business or hosting a formal social event, you should arrange with the staff to pay the bill after your guests have gone. This allows a smooth transition at the end of the meal and completely avoids the uncomfortable moment when guests wonder if they should be offering up the credit cards or cash to help you cover costs.

Are you a dining skills star? Remember, etiquette evolves. As for my friendly salad snacker, she did not ask me to critique her dining, so I refrained. But her behavior, years later, long after the substance of the conversation has been lost, still lingers.

Perhaps there is a faux pas or two lurking in your dining that could use some polish and refinement. If it has been a while since you thought about how you ate, you are invited to join me for a refresher.

Modern Manners at the Historic Hawthorne Hotel
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Mannersmith Monthly is a newsletter dedicated to timely etiquette topics. Copyright © 1996-2007 Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute this newsletter as long as this copyright and full information about contacting the author is attached.

Website You Should Know About: Knowledge At Wharton

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