A lot of manners and basic etiquette in this country seem to be long forgotten. No one sends “thank you” notes anymore (hell, no one even shoots off a quick email to say thank you most of the time). People don’t say “please”, they don’t say “excuse me”, and they generally ignore everyone around them. When was the last time someone bumped into you in a store and said “excuse me”? Bet it was a long time ago. When was the last time someone bumped into you and then shot you a glaring look as if to imply that it was your fault? Bet that was within the last week.

Saying “thank you”, “excuse me”, and “please” should not be regarded as antiquated traditions that have no relevance in the modern world. If you bump into someone, say “excuse me” or “I’m sorry”. Don’t glare at them as if it’s their fault for being in your personal space. If you need to squeeze past someone, again, say “excuse me”, don’t just try to squeeze through (this is one that my husband is horrible about — he always squeezes through people when I’m following him and then they seem to close in immediately behind him so that I can’t get through, and then they miraculously don’t hear me when I repeatedly say “excuse me” until I’m practically yelling it; meanwhile he’s already 100 feet ahead of me).

One of the biggest ways that you can form lasting relationships is to be polite. If you meet someone interesting at a conference, give them a call or send them a note afterwards thanking them for the opportunity to chat and suggesting some sort of follow-up in the future. If a colleague, friend or family member does something nice for you, send them a thank-you note. If you have a good job interview, send a thank-you note immediately afterward (this can score you major points toward getting the job, as long as you’re sincere and don’t sound like you’re just trying to suck up). If a client does something nice, send them a thank-you note. If a prospect invites you to bid on a project, even if you don’t make the sale, send them a note to thank them for their time and the opportunity. Same goes for if a prospect schedules a meeting with you. Send a thank-you note for the opportunity immediately afterward.

One of the keys to this is that most people don’t bother. The majority of people won’t take the time. So when someone receives a hand-written thank-you note from you a few days after a meeting, they’re going to remember you. They’re going to remember that you took the time to acknowledge them, and that you’re grateful for that person. This can go a long way in forming stronger business and personal relationships. It forms a positive impression in their mind. They know that you value what they’re doing for you or what they did for you. Everyone wants to feel valued, and they’re going to remember the people who value them.

Oh, and thanks for reading!

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