Etiquette Tuesday: Please & Thank you.

[ 0 ] February 23, 2016 |
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood

©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood

No need to beat around the bush this week about the Etiquette tip, the title above says it all:  Please and Thank you.  It amazes me that so many people do not know the power of these words.  They are absolutely part of the keys to success and they can get you very far in this life by simply using them often.  This week’s post stems from a host of occurrences, not one particular incident, unfortunately, it has been numerous situations.  A few examples include sending graduation/wedding/Christmas/birthday gifts and no thank you note, let alone a thank you; being asked for a favor and still no thank you; and my favorite inspiration comes from the lack thereof to say “can you please…” but somehow expecting success to fall into your lap.  Where they do that at?! 

People look at some of the things that I have been fortunate enough to experience and participate in and one of those reasons rests with how often I say “thank you” and “please” (in.a.day.).  Thanking someone shows gratitude, which is such an amazing feeling on either end of that spectrum.  It is important to emphasize these things at a young age too (you do not know how many children I know that do not know what a thank you card is, this will be one of the first lessons in my household behind the birthday card).  I see so many young adults with promising futures and they are lacking these two simple parts in their daily vocabulary and way of life.

You want that fab job?  A “thank you” for meeting me for coffee will likely keep your name in that executive’s mind.  Want to get another shot at the bar, but this time for free?  Saying “please, can you/can I have/etc…” a few times might alert the bartender that you are a patron that respects them as part of the staff versus servants.  Want to come back to that friend/colleague for another favor?  No one forgets your gratefulness from the last time you needed something and you made it a point to say thank you.  You get the point?  Please, thank you, happily ever after.

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Category: Etiquette Tuesday

About the Author ()

Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.

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