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“Being brave is not for the light-hearted. Bravery takes fortitude—the very act of bravery prevents anyone from knowing you were ever afraid in the first place.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“It is unimpressive to interrupt another person while they are talking. Interrupting someone in mid-sentence demonstrates that your focus is on yourself, not the person talking. I had a friend who used a humorous retort whenever someone would interrupt him. He would graciously, albeit sarcastically, say, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to speak while you were interrupting.” It always got a laugh, yet he was cleverly letting the intruder know of his infraction without being too confrontational.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“A man worth his salt will treat a lady like a lady and make the effort to be a gentleman. While independent women are fully capable of being self-reliant, the majority whom I know appreciate being treated with respect, consideration, and chivalry. For the women who yearn for the old-fashioned, good-hearted, chivalrous guy, I promise, they do exist.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“It is unimpressive to not return what’s been borrowed. Whether you have borrowed money, folding chairs, yard tools, or a popular book, always make sure you return to another person what is rightfully theirs. Lending it to you in the first place was a gift of trust and assistance. Being slow to give back in return may be considered rude.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Take the initiative with deliberate steps to be a polite person:
1. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
2. Reciprocate a thoughtful word or a good deed in kind.
3. Say "excuse me" when you bump into someone, unintentionally violate someone’s space, or need to get someone’s attention.
4. Apologize when you’ve made a mistake or are in the wrong.
5. Live by the "Golden Rule" and treat others the way you would like to be treated.
6. When dining at home or in a restaurant, wait until everyone is served before eating your meal.
7. Acknowledge notable events like birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Take the initiative with deliberate steps to be a polite person:
1. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
2. Reciprocate a thoughtful word or a good deed in kind.
3. Say "excuse me" when you bump into someone, unintentionally violate someone’s space, or need to get someone’s attention.
4. Apologize when you’ve made a mistake or are in the wrong.
5. Live by the "Golden Rule" and treat others the way you would like to be treated.
6. When dining at home or in a restaurant, wait until everyone is served before eating your meal.
7. Acknowledge notable events like birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries.
8. Reply to invitations, regardless of whether you will be able to attend.
9. Acknowledge and show gratitude for gifts and gestures of hospitality.
10. Put things back where they belong. Leave the world a better place than how you found it.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“All manners are not created equal and can conjure different interpretations based on the environment in which they are being displayed.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“What is appropriate in one setting may be entirely inappropriate in another. How you behave at a football game is different than how you behave at your sister’s wedding. How you interact with your closest friends will be different than how you engage with your boss.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“For more than forty years, Judith Martin has inspired the world with advice on etiquette excellence, proper behavior, and codes of conduct through her critically acclaimed newspaper column, “Miss Manners.” In an interview for her book, Miss Manners Minds Your Business, Mrs. Martin reminds us that “When you go to work, you want a degree of professionalism which does not involve hearing about all of the sordid details of a person’s love life. We are not necessarily all friends, but have a job that needs to be done. A work friend is not always a social friend. One requires distance while the other embraces intimacy.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“As our society has become more casual, the line between a person’s personal life and professional life has become blurred, especially with the advent of social media. Personal information, your manners (or lack thereof), opinions, and pictures of your private life are available for all the world to see. HR directors, recruiters, and potential employers will often ascertain a person’s manners and moral compass from their online presence.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“ASK YOURSELF: Are you presenting yourself in the best of all lights, online and off, and demonstrating the dignity of good manners? Make sure of it! If not, it may come back to haunt you.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“How a person treats wait staff speaks volumes about their character and values. If they misbehave in this scenario, you can likely predict how they will react when cut off in traffic, when their luggage is lost, or when life doesn’t go their way. It is also an indicator to CEOs and hiring managers as to whether a person is a viable candidate for being a considerate team player.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“It is unimpressive to not hold a door open for the next person coming through. After a satisfying workout at my gym, I was walking behind a man who was exiting at the same time. He was only about two feet in front of me. As he walked through the door, he let it close behind him, almost hitting me in the face. Was he being intentionally rude? Was he preoccupied and focused on other things?
No matter whether an offender is being a jerk intentionally, or is simply oblivious to how his behavior is affecting others, rude behavior instantly makes a negative impression. Be aware!”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“It is unimpressive to speaking rudely to others. Often, all we need to do to ensure that we do not launch into a rude remark is to pause . . . breathe . . . and smile to ourselves before speaking.
And when people are rude to you, just remember that they are revealing who they are, not who you are. Don’t take it personally. Sometimes being silent is your best response.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“I am a very lucky lady that my life partner, Daniel, is a true-blue Southern gentleman. Watching him in action not only earns my love and respect, but it also strengthens his countenance and bolsters his reputation as a man.
As a health care provider, he treats numerous patients who are elderly or in pain. Daniel has made it a customary ritual while people are in his care to help them with their coats, provide a stabilizing arm, carry the ladies’ purses, and even walk patients out to their cars. While this kindness provides extraordinary customer service, it also demonstrates that small acts of chivalry can make a significant impact on one’s reputation, first impression, and overall human-beingness.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“While good old-fashioned manners and etiquette have worked for centuries, new standards and expectations have come into play with the modern world. Behaviors which would have been appalling in the past are now socially acceptable.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Regardless of the trends we see in the deterioration of morality, respect, and values, wise people will still strive to take the high road to rise above the ever-increasing rudeness and stand apart from the crowd.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Stepping out and stepping up can be an intimidating experience, especially in social situations where the outcomes are unpredictable and uncertain. Have you ever been reluctant to . . .
• Say "no?"
• Request help?
• Ask for a raise?
• Stand up to a bully?
• Talk about tough topics?
• Confront a friend or spouse?
• Speak up and share your opinion?
• Begin a conversation with a stranger?
• Deliver a presentation or speak in public?
• Talk about the “white elephant” in the room?
• Befriend people who are much different than you?
• Make sales calls because you don’t want to be rejected?
• Approach a new group of people at a networking event?
• Go to an event by yourself where you did not know anyone?”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Stepping out and stepping up can be an intimidating experience, especially in social situations where the outcomes are unpredictable and uncertain. Have you ever been reluctant to . . .
• Say "no?"
• Request help?
• Ask for a raise?
• Stand up to a bully?
• Talk about tough topics?
• Confront a friend or spouse?
• Speak up and share your opinion?
• Begin a conversation with a stranger?
• Deliver a presentation or speak in public?
• Talk about the “white elephant” in the room?
• Befriend people who are much different than you?
• Make sales calls because you don’t want to be rejected?
• Approach a new group of people at a networking event?
• Go to an event by yourself where you did not know anyone?
Each of these scenarios can strike fear in the hearts of many because each involves risk and potential discomfort. Life holds endless circumstances with a broad and diverse range of challenge or conflict that require you to be brave.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“What is easy for one person may be terrifying for another. Not all people have developed an unshakable confidence to kick butt and conquer. How can meek and quiet wallflowers, both women and men, join the ranks of the risk takers and event shakers? The first step is to ask yourself how you may be feeling stuck and then get moving.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“If you like the relationship results you have been getting and don’t see any need for improvement, your status quo may actually be your sweet spot for comfort and contentment. That is a wonderful place to be.
However, if you are like most of us, staying stuck in your status quo may prevent you from striving, thriving, and growing in your relationship possibilities.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“I was once hired by an organization to deliver a workshop on networking. The goal was to provide their engineers with tools and strategies for expanding their circles of influence—to foster innovation, collaboration, and teambuilding. One of the engineers raised her hand in the middle of the program and bluntly said, “I’m happy with the people in my life and don’t care to add any more.” I respect and appreciate her position and have sometimes felt the same way.
But, as long as we are alive, we will meet, greet, and interact with new people. Even if we are not inviting them into our personal lives, being socially brave will open new doors which may have remained closed otherwise.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Fear is the number one reason why people do not take action. The divine irony is that most of the fears we experience are self-generated and born out of our own imaginings, hence the acronym False Evidence Appearing Real.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Every one of us, at some time or another, has allowed fear to prevent us from living our best possible life. The first step in conquering our fears is to identify and confront them. Among the most common are:
• Failure
• Success
• Being rejected
• Looking stupid
• Financial insecurity
• Falling on your face
• Being vulnerable
• Appearing weak or unhealthy
• Exposing your secrets
• Being alone or unloved
• Upsetting the status quo
• Disappointing others”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, ground yourself in your character values:
Building a solid foundation of integrity and character will fortify your confidence to face down fears and take bold action.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, take a deep breath & relax:
When you feel fear, your body tenses up and your thoughts lead you down an anxiety-ridden path. Stop, breathe, relax.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, interview brave people and learn their secrets.
Whom do you know that displays courage and confidence? Ask them for their best practices, mimic their actions, follow their steps, utilize their methods. Ask if they will mentor you.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, borrow courage.
There is inspiration all around you in the form of people who are living your dreams, achieving similar goals, and already succeeding. Knowing that something can be done is often half the battle. Most successful people find great reward in helping others reach for goals.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, avoid the bystander effect.
Rather than standing on the sidelines watching other people achieve their goals, jump in with both feet and get involved.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, get involved in a cause you are passionate about.
Serving a vision bigger than yourself changes your focus from self-doubt to whatever action is necessary for the vision to succeed. “When in doubt, take it out.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, change your attitude toward failure. Many successful people will tell you that if you aren’t failing, you aren’t trying—that failure is an essential precursor to achieving worthwhile endeavors. Failing (no matter how hard) is one of life’s best teachers for winning the next time.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, start small. Taking small, consistent steps for calculated risks will help you test your footing. Once you begin enjoying mini-victories, you will be able to build upon your small successes to escalate momentum and strengthen your courage to take bigger ones.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, build upon your strengths and talents. What are you good at? What makes you feel confident and personally powerful? Your competencies will ground you and build your strength.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, try something new for the first time. Take a chance. Stretch beyond your familiar limits by taking risks that move you out of your old mindset and into a new perspective. Once accomplished, trying something new bolsters your confidence and boosts your ability to be brave.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, reduce uncertainty by being prepared. As Zig Ziglar once said, “Success happens when opportunity meets preparation.” Preparing well for potential outcomes will provide you with a safety net if there is a hiccup, glitch, or temporary setback.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, practice, practice, practice. Each time you test your bravery you grow your self-assurance and increase your comfort to a greater degree. Repetition helps build confidence and competence. You did it; now do it again!”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, Do It Scared. Being scared is a precursor to bravery, otherwise, it wouldn’t be bravery, would it? Mustering the courage to stretch beyond your familiar territory is a rewarding act in itself.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“To cultivate bravery and courage, may the Force be with you. Whether you fortify yourself with a positive mental attitude, affirmations, faith in God, prayer, and meditation, or an innate sense of personal destiny, you have the power to summon your courage and be brave. “Make it so, Number One!”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“And as is often the case, the people who would benefit the most from reading a book like this are the ones least likely to buy and read it. For you, however, this chapter will serve as a sterling reminder to make your manners shine.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Impeccable manners and courteous behavior are the hallmarks for healthy relations and human interaction.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Polite people tend to be more respected, admired, and appreciated than their rude counterparts.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Without civilized social graces, not only is life more difficult, but a positive first impression can be destroyed as fast as it is made.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“I remember hearing years ago about a centenarian being interviewed on her birthday. She was asked, “Throughout your life, you have witnessed amazing change and innovation. The past one-hundred years have brought the inventions of the car, television, air conditioning, and microwave ovens. What is the most extraordinary change you have seen in your lifetime?” Without missing a beat, she replied, “That a teenager can say “suck” in front of their parents and get away with it!”
While cultural norms may have changed with the times, being considerate of fellow human beings is not an antiquated notion; its time hasn't ended. Quite the opposite is true. In our world today, kindness and politeness are needed more than ever.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“The elegance of etiquette is a timeless expression of class which transcends social status, demographics, educational level, and ethnicity. Good manners say more about you than the person who is on the receiving end.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Take the initiative with deliberate steps to be a polite person:
1. Say please when you are making a request or asking for help.
2. Say thank you when a person has said or done something kind or at your request.
3. Ask permission before borrowing something that’s not yours.
4. Hold doors open for the next person coming through.
5. Offer a helping hand before being asked.
6. Let the people exiting an elevator step out before you step in.
7. Be kind to people who are in service positions.
8. Keep your negative opinions close to your vest and out of earshot where your words might hurt or offend.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Life rewards action. To get from where you are now to where you want to be requires forward movement and momentum. Although you may already know what it takes to bridge the gap, simply knowing what to do is not enough.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Action is the key to creating the changes needed to propel you toward your chosen outcomes and help you achieve your relationship goals. How are you allocating your time, energy, and activities to ‘activate your awesome’ and contribute to making a positive first impression?”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“The Art of Action explores specific action steps you can take for personal and professional transformation. Start by taking the initiative to be kind, courageous, and polite.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Become a ‘good finder’ and seek to acknowledge the best you see in others.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Move beyond yourself to serve a greater purpose and vision. Learn to mix, mingle, and glow, thus helping others feel more comfortable, at ease, important, and connected.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact