The Lost Era of Steam Travel

The Lost Era of Steam Travel The Lost Era of Steam Travel They were called iron horses, a moniker suggesting indestructability, but these 400-ton machines were very prone to wear and tear. In fact, the behemoths required plenty of tender loving care.And so for more than 50 years the great steam locomotives came, chugging in to a Southern Railway repair yard sprawled over 141 acres in Spencer, North Carolina, about 30 miles southwest of Winston-Salem.The facility at Spencer, constructed in 1896 and featuring a massive roundhouse, welches one of hundreds of railroad back shops that dotted the American landscape during the heyday of steam travel in the mid-nineteenth century and into the turn of the twentieth century. While not uncommon in its time, the Spencer shops stand out today as one of the largest remaining original examples of the final era of roundhouse construction, according to ASME, which recently named the facility a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.Samuel Spencer s aw the need for a large maintenance shop situated somewhere between the companys existing repair shops in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Such a facility, Spencer reasoned, would enable the company to service and swap out its locomotives at short intervals along the busy eastern line, dividing the Washington to Atlanta run into four segments of about 160 miles each.ConstructionConstruction of the Spencer shops began in March 1896 and the facility was operational six months later. Spencer was a huge complex of shops, administrative buildings, lots, storage areas, and railroad spurs and sidings, reflecting the requirements of the growing company.The original facility included a semicircular roundhouse with 15 bays. It was here that Southerns steam-driven locomotives received routine light maintenance. Crews in the roundhouse performed brake work, gear adjustments, boiler washouts, grease jobs, inspections, and other tasks necessary to keep the companys rolling stock in continuous operati on. In 1924, the roundhouse at Spencer was expanded to 37 stalls, each one 106 feet deep.Since steam locomotives were unable to back out of these stalls, engineers designed and built a rotating turntable that enabled the engines to face in the direction they would exit the roundhouse. The turntable, which rotated 360 degrees about a centerspindle, was supported at each end by wheels rolling on a circular rail set in a concrete pit. A pair of electric motors set the turntable in motion.The facility also included shops for major repair work. Some of these shops were able to accommodate the complete disassembly of a locomotive. Need a part? No problem. Spencer included a machine shop where any part could be cast, forged, and milled on spec. There was no outsourcing of work at Spencer.In peak periods, Southern operated three shifts at 24 hours around the clock at Spencer, retaining a workforce of 3000 repairmen and other employees.One of them was Clifford E. Spears, who worked as a boil ermaker at Spencer from 1942 to 1960. Spears, now 87 years old and still living in Spencer, recalls the bustle of the rail yard, with trains continuously entering and leaving the shops.All the stalls in the roundhouse would be occupied, said Spears, whose job was to weld joints and seams and perform other tasks to make the boilers on the locomotives steam-tight. After the repair work was carried out, inspections were done. Engines that passed inspection were rolled out and placed back into service. Engines requiring major repairs were taken to the other shops, where workers removed the running gears and cranes set the locomotives on wooden blocks. The equipment remained in certain shops depending on the extent of the repair work.Here Come the DieselsDiesel locomotives began arriving at Spencer in 1941, prompting officials at Southern Railway to retrofit the roundhouse to meet the requirements of the new engines. Nine stalls were extended to accommodate the longer, multi-unit diesels , and new sections were added to service batteries, fuel injectors, and other components of the new locomotives.By 1953, the company had taken all its steam locomotives off the rails, marking the end of an era at the Spencer shops. Clifford Spears recalls that the job skills of the boilermakers and pipefitters became obsolete, while the mechanics with knowledge of electrical components became valued assets.While Southern continued to service part of its fleet of diesel locomotives at Spencer into the 1960s, much of the heavy repair work had ceased years earlier and by the latter 1970s, the great train yard had reached the end days. The facility was abandoned in 1977, its roundhouse and shops mothballed.RestorationSouthern Railways Spencer shops could have become part of Americas Rust Belt, a relic, a symbol of a forgotten period in the nations gritty industrial past. The government of North Carolina, however, saw the facility as much more, as a link to the states history and heritag e. In 1979, the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources in collaboration with the North Carolina Transportation History Corporation launched a campaign to restore the facility. Funds were raised to refurbish the roundhouse and turntable, which opened to the public in 1996.Today, the North Carolina Transportation Museum occupies part of the old Spencer shops and uses the roundhouse to display its collection of rolling stock.All the stalls in the roundhouse would be occupied. After the repair work was carried out, inspections were done. Engines that passed inspection were rolled out and placed back into service.Clifford E. Spears, Boilermaker, Southern Railways Spencer Shops

5 things you should never say to a friend who hates their job

5 things you should never say to a friend who hates their job5 things you should never say to a friend who hates their jobIn a perfect world, we would obviously all love our jobs. We would jump out of bed every morning - nosnooze buttonnecessary - ready to put on our bestbusiness casualand be the first one to hit the office. We would gel easily with ourcolleaguesand supervisors and never get into an awkward spat with other people on our teams. We would rise seamlessly through the ranks at our current organization, too pleased with the companys mission and too fulfilled by our work to ever consider circling back to our resumes and applying to other jobs.Sadly, this isnt always the situation. Unless youre the rare lucky case, youve had imperfect moments on the job - and your friends have too. As a result, you may be the one your BFF comes to after an especially tough workday. Its not always easy to know what to say when someone is struggling, especially when it comes to something as vital as their source of support.We checked in with experts for advice on whatnotto say to a pal whos habitually unhappy in their work. Keep scrolling for their anti-recommendations.1. It will probably blow over.If your friend is miserable at the office, dont minimize their feelings or brush off their concerns as temporary. Instead, counselor, coach, and healerAnahid Lisa Derbabianencourages you to take the time to listen and to understand what theyre going through. When you tell someone that their worries are bound to pass, what they might hear is that you dont think that what theyre dealing with is substantial enough to merit a thoughtful conversation in the here and now. And we know thats not how you actually feel2. Ive been there Heres what happened to me Your first instinct might be to try to draw from your own experiences with a less-than-ideal job or to share an anecdote with your friend that will remind them that theres a light at the end of the tunnel, but coach and consu ltantJane Scudderadvises against it. Youre probably doing this in an effort to normalize the situation or empathize with your friend, but what it can actually do is make this about you, when it needs to be about them. There may come a time when your friend asks you to share your personal journey out of a crummy gig - but in the meantime keep it to yourself.3. If I were you, I would stay for the benefits.Naturally, a reliable health insurance plan or 401(k) is nothing to take lightly, but suggesting your unhappy pal stick around in apotentially unhealthy workplacesimply becauseyoufind the benefits attractive may come off as judgmental. Its up to them to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons in their current job. Plus, as author and coachBernard Charlespoints out, benefits can change with political or other shifts. Comments like these keep your friends and loved ones playing small, Charles reminds us. Any job that exhausts you, sucks the life out of you, or expects you to hand ov er your proverbial kidney isnt worth it.4. How is thejob searchgoing?Assuming your friend has been unhappy with their current employment situation for a while, you might find yourself tempted to regularly touch base about their prospects. While that could be read as genuine concern, it could also strike a nerve in your likely stressed loved one. If they had a new job, they would have told you, saysMaple HolisticsHR manager Nate Masterson. They dont need a reminder that theyre still unemployed or searching for alternatives. This conversation is at the bottom of their chat-with-my-friend list.5. You should just be grateful for the job you have.Gratitude is important, but it doesnt have to come at the expense of your daily happiness. Being grateful doesnt mean ignoring pain and unhappiness, adviserCandice Thomasnotes. It doesnt matter if your friends job seems like the greatest job on Earth. Thats your perspective, not theirs. If they are unhappy, theres a reason for it. Your role shou ld be to listen openly to their frustrations and to encourage them in whatever steps they want to take next.This article first appeared on Brit + Co.

MBDAs new administrator has tough road ahead

MBDAs new administrator has tough road aheadMBDAs new administrator has tough road aheadThe Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) named a new administrator today appointed by US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. David Hinson is the president and CEO of Wealth Management Network Inc., a multimillion dollar financial advisory firm.The MBDA is the only federal agency set up to specifically encourage the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses nationwide. Last year, the agency negotiated $2 tausend milliarden in capital and contracts for minority-owned businesses. Hinsons primary responsibility will be to continue to promote entrepreneurship opportunities forminoritiesand foster growth of existing minority-owned small businesses. According to the MBDA website, minority businesses generate more than $661 billion in annual revenue and employ nearly five million workers. With Hinsons experience in the financial industry, havingformerly worked at both Bank of America and Mor gan Stanley, his appointment is promising for the agency as he carries cachet and respect among his peers. At a time when the economy is proving even more exacting for minorities, with many having stalled on their business plans in the absence of credit, Hinsons plan of action will be essential in generating employment, entrepreneurship and getting lines of credit running again.

5 habits of highly likable people

5 habits of highly likable people5 habits of highly likable peopleIt is the fear of most people at work When you wiggle yur way into a group at your office happy hour, the conversation immediately screeches to a halt. When you speak up in team meetings, your colleagues roll their eyes. You feel like you hear whispers every time you walk down the hallway.For whatever reason, youre hated at work. And, even further, youre convinced that its your no-good, backstabbing co-workers that are the problem. Why on earth wouldnt they like you? You think youre pretty great. How catty and childish (ahem, not to mention blind) are they?Brace yourself for a rude awakening The issue here could very well be you.When youre not well-liked in the office, its easy to point the finger at your co-workers. But, heres the brutal reality You play a large role in how youre perceived in the office- meaning its not all the fault of your seemingly nasty and judgmental colleagues.We all have blind spots about ourse lves, explains Kathi Elster, President of K Squared Enterprises, co-author of Mean Girls at Work, and co-host of My Crazy Office Podcast.When the behaviors are built in, its easy for us to see them as right. Habits slowly build from this repeated behavior, adds Jeanne Patti, acareer coach.If we ourselves dont see the habits forming or those around us dont call us out on them, these behaviors can become chronic and can negatively affect our character and how others view us.What does all of this mean for you? Well, the way that youre behaving in the office could be majorly turning your colleagues off- without you even realizing it. Heres how to turn it around and become more likable - not with tricks, but with honest self-assessment.How to examine your own behavior for flawsSo, what sorts of behaviors could you be exhibiting that are making your teammates cringe? Well, from constantly complaining to interrupting, your obnoxious actions could run the gamut. The most toxic behaviors I see in the workplace involve individuals who think that the only way for them to get a win is for other people to lose, explains Karlyn Borysenko, a principal ofZen Workplace, about something she sees crop up frequently. If they arent pushing other people down, they dont think they can get ahead.Office gossip is another terrible trap thats easy to fall into. As human beings, we like to understand why things are the way they are, and if we dont have a clear explanation for it, well come up with stories to explain it, adds Borysenko. Here are some other things you could be doing that are contributing to your least liked status in the office.Maintaining control at all costs Being the quintessential control freak might seem like a great way to take initiative and bring some much-needed organization to your team, but its aya to grate on your colleagues.These people want to make all the decisions, double-check everything, and nitpick all the small details, says Borysenko. Exhibiting this behavior might mean that youll even go so far as to provide direction to your peers- you act like the boss, even though youre not. Taking credit for others work This ones a no-brainer, right? But, youd be surprised by how easy it is to fall into this same trap yourself. Whether you provide a not-so-subtle reminder that the project was a team effort when your colleague is praised by your boss or you pass off an idea that your team member mentioned to you as your own, it can be tempting to ride on coattails or create your own spinoffs in reservierung to shift the spotlight to yourself. Breeding negativity When your team member wants to change the way you do a certain report, you complain. When the office manager switches out the brand of coffee in the breakroom, you complain.The pessimist can build a pretty strong case why the change can hurt the status quo, says Patti. When projects dont meet their goals, these guardians prove themselves right, and the pessimistic behavior will build upon itself.Having all the answers Nobody likes a know-it-all. Not only is this behavior just plain obnoxious, but it can also lead to some pretty condescending treatment of your colleagues. When this person becomes stressed or unable to contribute in a way they see as valuable to help fix the problem, they can quickly judge others and see them as incompetent, Patti explains. Avoiding conflict Are you somebody who prefers to duck and cover as soon as conflicts arise or conversations get a little more heated? You might think that playing Switzerland is a surefire way to stay out of the mess altogether. But, avoiding unpleasantness at all costs- and leaving your co-workers to duke it out, even when you have a dog in the fight yourself- is actually equally as frustrating. How to build self awarenessHeres the problem we all run into Recognizing these behaviors in ourselves can be tough. After all, if you knew that something you were doing was royally pissing your co-workers off, you pr obably wouldve stopped doing that thing long ago, right?Needless to say, the first step to changing any behavior or habit is being able to identify it. So, in order to gain some more favor in the office (and stop those eye rolls that youve grown to dread), youre going to need to become a little more self-aware. Heres how.1. Take ownershipFirst up? Accepting the fact that you do indeed play a large role in the way that youre perceived in the office. Sorry, its not all the fault of your seemingly judgmental colleagues.If we acknowledge how our behaviors are being perceived by our co-workers, that means we need to place blame on ourselves, and most people simply dont want to do that, shares Borysenko. Its far easier to put ourselves in the role of a victim so that we dont have to accept that we probably could have approached things differently.2. Ask for feedbackRemember those blind spots you have about your own behavior? You might need to pull in some outside reinforcements to help yo u realize when youre acting like, well, a jerk. We all need to get direct feedback on what we are doing wrong, explains Elster. Whether you want to have an honest (and likely to be brutally frank) conversation with a co-worker that you trust or plan to bring up the way that youre perceived in the office during a one-on-one with your supervisor, getting the insights- and help- of other people on your team can help to open your eyes to the way youre acting.3. Pay attention to your stress reactionsOn a good day, we can play nice with anyone, shares Patti, Yet, when were frustrated and under stress, our core traits come flying out.Most of us act out when we are stressed, which will contribute to bringing out our worst behaviors, adds Elster. We need to know what our stress reactions might be.Pay close attention to how your attitude and behavior change when youre placed in a high pressure situation. For example, do you become extra pushy and controlling when youre working with a tight de adline?Anticipating that reaction will help you to more proactively manage it.4. Stop judgingWhen you realize that youve been acting like a straight-up jerk in the office, its human nature to start beating yourself up. But, resist the temptation to drag yourself over the coals.Stop judging things as good or bad- your behaviors or other peoples, warns Borysenko. The minute we see something as bad we try to fight against it, but thats usually just not productive. Anytime you find yourself judging, take a step back, breathe, consider your goals, and look for the best way to bring others along to achieve them.5. Frequently step back and examine your own roleNo one sets out to behave in bad ways we all try to work in ways that are comfortable for us. So, unless youre a gefhrlicher irrer (they do well at work) theres a good chance that the behaviors that you assume to be harmless could be the very things that are pushing your co-workers away.Be aware of these common toxic behaviors and im plement these tips to become more aware of your own actions, and youre much more likely to tackle the important task of turning your reputation around.Remember that you often get back the reactions you put out there if youre doing a lot of eye-rolling yourself, youre more likely to get eye-rolls from others in return. If youre complaining a lot, people are complaining about you.Above all be authentic. Putting on an act to seem like a different person takes a lot of energy, wont make you feel better and most of your colleagues are likely to see right through it anyway. Most of the time, unless were Oscar-nominated actors, were not fooling anyone by pretending. Be sincere in your words and actions, and treat people with the respect they deserve.You can be the smartest person in the room, but if no one likes you or no one wants to work with you, your reputation is going to be hurt, concludes Elster. Behavior matters.

Hiring the Best People with a Values-Based Interview Strategy

Hiring the Best People with a Values-Based Interview StrategyHiring the Best People with a Values-Based Interview StrategyHiring the Best People with a Values-Based Interview Strategy Rhoades, author of Built on Values Creating an Enviable Culture that Outperforms the Competition (Jossey-Bass, 2011.)In yur quest to attract top talent,are you hiring too many people who are just average? Why not let your best people help you select candidates who are a better fit for your corporateculture?Getting your best people your A Players involved in the hiring process is a technique I call values interviewing, as part of a values-based hiring strategy.Ive seen this approach work at companies like JetBlue, where I was a founding executive, and at many other clients of my company, People Ink. At Loma Linda University Medical Center, for example, after values-based hiring was put in place, turnover fell precipitously from 18 percent per year to 1 percent in the ICU the hospitals patient engageme nt score (a measure of customer satisfaction) rose to 99 percent.One of our clients reported an Aha moment when interviewing a person with twenty years experience and a sterling resume. He said that previously he would have hired her on sight. But when he asked her to tell him about the specific steps she took to increase revenue by 38 percent, as her resume stated, she simply couldnt do it.Being able to articulate the behaviors associated with achievements is a key component of values hiring and one that a traditional interview strategy usually misses.At Southwest, when I was Chief People Officer, we did a regression analysis of the behavior of our employees over a two-year period that proved that the most successful employees were the ones who could articulate past behaviors that matched with our values.Even your job postings on Monster.com will attract a better class of job applicant if your values and the desired behaviors associated with them are an explicit part of your recrui ting message. Simply put, youll attract more people like you.Improve your Interview OutcomesA typical interview, writes Stephanie Clifford of Inc., unstructured, rambling, unfocused tells the interviewer almost nothing about candidates, other than how they seem during a couple of meetings in a conference room.Once a values-hiring process is implemented, interviewers will all ask the same open-ended behavior- or values-based questions of every applicant and can objectively compare their answers. If done correctly, values hiring takes much of the guesswork out of interviewing, allowing the interviewer to make educated decisions based on a persons past behavior, rather than emotional or gut responses.Yes, I am recommending that you change the way you hire people throughout your company. I guarantee that if you stick with this new hiring method for six months, you will wonder why you ever did it any other way.A Better Hiring Process Start with One Key Position The first step in values- based hiring is to apply it to a position that is vital to the customers perceptions of your company (in order words, it represents high value to your company) and is a position thats difficult to keep filled.Some examples An airline might departure with pilots. Some companies might start with the customer service agent position. At Loma Linda, they started with the environmental care specialist, known elsewhere as the custodial staff.After all, these people are seen by everyone and trusted to create a neat, sterile environment they interact with patients, come into contact with the public in the lobbies and halls and must have high standards of cleanliness.Yet the turnover in this position was more than a third annually, making it a great place to start.Step 2 Uncover the Jobs Key AttributesOnce youve chosen the position, the next step is to identify its key attributes. The values-hiring innovation start by interviewing the best people who already hold this job in your company. Ask these employees questions such asIf you were looking to recruit a great person for your own position, what would you be looking for?What skills help you do your job well?Then, add relevant behavior-based questions like this oneTell me about a difficult situation that you handled successfully.A list of ten to fifteen success characteristics will emerge fairly clearly relevant supervisors or managers should be asked to rank them in order of importance and narrow the list to the most important five or six.Although this validation can be time-consuming, the involvement of employees who actually do the job adds credibility to the process and cultivates a sense of ownership among the workforce.At Loma Linda, for example, key employees agreed that the key attributes of an environmental care specialist were customer focus, accuracy and attention to detail, and adaptability.These traits can help your team formulate meaningful interview questions that become part of your companys interview g uide. A values-based approach to hiring will also help you create a more structured and fair process for hiring great people.Author BioAnn Rhoades is president of People Ink, a culture-change consulting firm, and the author Built on Values Creating an Enviable Culture that Outperforms the Competition.She is also a member of the board of JetBlue and P.F. Changs.She was one of the five founding executives of JetBlue Airways, Chief People Officer for Southwest Airlines and Executive Vice President of Team Services at Doubletree and Promus Hotel Corporations.

The True Meaning of Is My Perfect Resume Free

The True Meaning of Is My Perfect Resume Free Writing a strong application is a difficult procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Apart from consulting My Perfect Resume reviews, everyone can visit the website and find three primary steps for using the service. The way the Service Works My Perfect Resume is completely self-directed, so the quantity of time that it requires to experience the whole process will change from person to person. To begin, you have the choice to import your Word or LinkedIn resume. What Is My Perfect Resume Free Is - and What it Is Not The incorrect hire can send things spinning, while the fruchtwein suitable one can totally transform their business enterprise. The very last thing you would like is for your resume to let you down when youre actually the most suitable pick for the job. With this much riding on your resume, it is logical to seek out professional assistance. Do elend offer these people money. 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When It Comes to Business, Mind Your Manners

When It Comes to Business, Mind Yur Manners Believe it or not, minding your manners really does make a difference in business these days. In fact, after hiring ourfirm,a client once told me that he had spoken with a number of potential firms and that, while every one of them could do the job, in the end, he picked us because our team had the best manners by far. He added, and I quote, We always hire for manners because everything else can be learned on the job. Its an interesting hiring strategy, to be sure. Wouldnt your mother be thrilled? Who would have thought that our firmsunique value proposition in the deal would be manners? Although business protocol welchesnt actually taught in any business school I considered, maybe MBA programsshould start doing just that.So, what can you do to incorporate a little Emily Post into your daily routine? Its not as hard as you might think.1. Focus on the Pre sentWeve all turned into multitasking machines we talk on the phone, check email, travel to the next meeting, and eat lunch all at the saatkorn time. But juggling tasks is overrated and, frankly, unfulfilling for all involved. The person on the other end of the line can tell your mind is wandering as your voice trails off the clicking of the keys in the background is annoying and distracting youre about to sideswipe the guy on your left and food is meant to be shared and enjoyed, not shoved down your throat as quickly as possible. Slow down, focus, and put your full attention into everything you do. People will notice when you do, and theyll appreciate your interest.2. When Youre on the Phone, Smile as You TalkSmiling almost forces you to articulate mora its harder to mumble and slur your words when you smile. And a smile comes through in your voice and tone. I find it also helps to stand up or sit up in your chair when you speak on the phone, because your voice projects better and sounds clearer when you do.Our firmonce worked with a company that put millions of dollars into a fancy customer relationship management (CRM) system meant totouch its customers in meaningful ways. The funny thing is, when you call the companys main number, you get shoved into a phone tree that never seems to end. Its frustrating, and thecompanyno longer lets you push 0 to reach an actual human being. In fact, the company overrode that feature in the system since so many people were using it (which should have been a clue).My first recommendation for the company was to have a real human being preferably one who smiles pick up the phone at least during normal business hours. Thecompanycan hire a lot of people for all the money itspent on the CRM system upgrades and training.Call me old-fashioned, but it really is nice when you can reach a smiling human being on the other end of the line.3. Listen to Your Phones Outgoing MessageI know a professional whose cell phone katechese barks , Im not here. Dont leave me a message on this phone And hes in sales. Would you buy from him? Not likely.Make it easy for people to find you and follow up with you, especially if youre in a people-oriented business. Its perfectly acceptable to say that youre traveling and unable to check messages regularly, or that you prefer people to leave messages at another number. Heck, you caneven to encourage people to send an emailinstead But announcing that you dont welcome voice messages makes you seem unapproachable and cold, neither of which are desirable qualities in business.4.Apologize When You Make a MistakeIts the cover-up or denial, not the screw-up, that ultimately gets you in trouble.Ihad two people not show up for scheduled meetings in the past year. One made excuses and said he would get back to me with dates for a lunch to make up for it (Im still waiting for his call), and the other sent the most beautiful flowers Ive ever seen and called the following day asking when and wh ere we could meet again.Everyone has emergencies or technology snafus to deal with. Its how you handle these situations that show your character. People can become more loyal than they ever would have otherwise if you rectify a bad situation by addressing the problem and making amends. The dog ate my homework didnt work in high school, and it wont work in business. Come clean and make good on your promises.5. Let the Call Go to VoicemailTurn off your cell phone when youre in a meeting and forward your phone tovoicemail when people are in your office. If you start responding to every incoming missive, you send a message that the person youre with just isnt important. People dont care how much you know until they know how much you care, so give them your full attention and be engaged in the conversation thats right in front of you.In a movie theater, before the movie starts, they show the inconsiderate cell phone man ad to remind people to turn off their phones. Do we really need to s toop that low in business now, too? Before I give speeches or workshops, I always ask everyone in the room to silence their phones, and I let them know that Ill collect $20 for every phone that rings and donate the money to a local charity. That usually does the trick.6. Practice Positive Email EtiquetteI call itThe New York Timestest if you wouldnt want to see it on the front page of the newspaper, then dont send the message. Its amazing what gets passed around the office and left on the printer and you can be sure that information will fall into the wrong hands. So, before you hit send after a heated exchange, take a walk, get a cup of coffee, and then read your message one last time to make sure you really want itto go out.7. Acknowledge GiftsA simple Thank you is sufficient. Its embarrassing for both parties to have to follow up to make sure a gift was received. The person who sent the gift isnt fishing for a compliment they just want to be sure their package was delivered. An d the recipient knows they should have responded sooner. Save everyone the hassle, and just drop a quick email saying the giftarrived.A corollary to this is, if someone is responsible for helping you find a job, secure a new customer, or schedulea meeting with an influential person, you should let them know you appreciate their help. A job, customer, or a meeting is a gift in many ways.8.Dont Take It Out on the Receptionist or CashierWhen things arent going your way, dont let the first person you come in contact with take the brunt of your anger. It reflects badly on you, and its likely that whatever went wrong wasnt their fault. So take the high road youll attract more bees with honey anyway.Maybe all good manners just go back to the Golden Rule Do onto others as you would have them do unto you. You may in fact find that good manners will turn into good money I did. So listen to your mother and mind your manners. Its the little things that add up to making a great impression with every encounter. Focus, smile, listen. It doesnt take much these days.