making impressions

I’ve been working for many (many, many) years towards getting a business off the ground. The vision began with a joke between a friend of mine and myself. We were both career counsellors at an employment agency and were commenting on the need for some of our clients to understand the importance of their attitude, wardrobe, manners and behaviour choices. We thought it would be funny to have our own etiquette business to teach these necessary but absent skills.

After some time and several clients later, I began to think it wasn’t so funny after all. In appointments, I heard atrocious language, saw unkempt hair, watched slouching individuals bite fingernails and sometimes I’d have to hold my breath to not inhale the “whatever-it-was” smoke that seemed to still be billowing from clothes. It occurred to me that some people did not realize how their choices were affecting those around them. Or that those same choices might be the cause of detrimental judgments that could hinder their prospects for jobs or even relationships.

It was then that I started to take that original joke between friends, more seriously. I enrolled in an image consultant certification course, invested in civility training workbooks and step-by-excruciating-step, I have put together VNC Image & Etiquette and I am (almost) ready to launch to the public.

In addition to my image and civility (etiquette) training, I am a certified career development practitioner and hold both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education degree. I understand that how one presents him/herself physically and behaviourally is essential to the pursuit of many goals – personal or professional. I have a special interest in honing youth and young adults’ leadership capabilities. This can help with the transition from high school to post secondary or from post secondary to career. I can also offer assistance to those who are looking to boost self-esteem or just need to freshen it up.

As a first step, I am offering a Leadership Workshop Series for youth ages 14 – 21. More workshops will be coming and personal one-on-one services will be available to develop action plans with individuals depending on their needs. I will also be available for speaking engagements. Please contact me if you require further details on any of the above workshops or services.

Stay tuned …

I often have conversations with people about how society has lost it’s courtesy and civility. It often leads to discussions of entitlement and how our youth today, don’t seem to have the understanding of manners and decorum that once used to be taught in school and practiced at home. Then, you sit by the young gentleman in a small plane who gets up and assists you to your seat and starts polite conversation and you realize that all is not lost in the world of polite society. When instructed to turn off all electronics, he did so promptly and stowed it in his carry-on. He indicated he was a university student travelling to visit some friends for a weekend party. If he had of told me that first, I would have judged him as one of those youth that I often talk about with my adult cohorts. I was impressed with his ability to manage conversation, make eye contact and use the most impeccable manners throughout the flight. I didn’t point out the impression he made on me for fear of embarrassing him but I want to pass it on – especially to young people out there – manners and courtesy are never out of style. Make courtesy a habit. You never know who you are going to impress with it.