The Etiquette Authority did not begin on a whim but has roots all the way back to my childhood. As cliche as it may sound, it was Mom’s teaching of manners and behavior that laid the foundation in me. God said in Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (NIV). I taught Sunday School for several years and the young people I worked with always enjoyed the extra time we would take for behavioral lessons. Having worked in human resources for a number of years and being responsible for interviewing and hiring personnel, I have discovered a monumental gap in this kind of training. I have interviewed people who look wonderful on paper. Their resumes look great and they have all kinds of formal education, but they do not have the social skills to sit in front of someone and be interviewed. They do not know how to appropriately dress, greet and address people, especially the people to whom they are looking for employment. I earned my Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). Perhaps you have too. Ask yourself these questions: What sets me apart from the others? Why should this company hire me? How can I gain an advantage over other applicants? How can I gain more business? Why don't I feel confident? What has changed to cause such a gap in social skills? There are many factors. Technology is a very big factor. With Blackberries, cell phones, portable games and entertainment, many have forgotten to put people first. It doesn't mean that you can't continue to do these things, but you must know the skills to appropriately interact with people – because people should always come first. Another factor is demands – the demands of working, school, etc. Because of such demands, some families get very little time even at the dinner table together. Did you know that many businesses conduct interviews over lunch? One of the purposes of this is to test skills and confidence levels of potential employees. Melanie's presentation is spot-on, and the topic is presented in a way that reminds all of us what etiquette should be, in a fun and interactive manner. I would recommend her to any group! - Paula Barnes, Association of Legal Administrators