You’re in a meeting with someone who hopes to sell his services to you. He asks you to complete a quick form and while you do, you see him engaging in what we’ve heard called the blackberry prayer, (that’s right, you know exactly what it is because we’ve all either done it or resisted the urge to do it). Hands cupped in his lap, he is checking his email during your meeting. He has managed to send a signal that you are not as important as whoever has written him. He might not have intended to convey that, but it doesn’t matter. He just lost your business.

This story is a good example of why it pays to know the basics of business etiquette. Etiquette is a skill directly related to money. It can help you make money and help your company be profitable. If you’re part of a not-for-profit organization, it can help you attract and retain loyal donors. Many people didn’t learn business etiquette at home or school, and now find themselves having to learn as adults.

Business etiquette is about graciously hosting a donor, patron, client or prospect. It’s about making anyone feel at ease and finding our own comfort in any situation, including being with people from different economic classes than we usually encounter.

Etiquette is a means of communication. It communicates to others what you know or don’t know, how you value yourself and others. In a business environment, etiquette reads as professionalism. Your attention to it says a lot about you and about your organization as you are always representing that organization in everything you do.

We’ve been asked to create and implement programs for companies and non-profits alike who would like to educate their employees on how to treat each other and how to be in any social or business situation with their clients and patrons and make them feel at ease.

We believe any interaction with others should be governed with sensitivity and understanding. We are happy and honored to have been asked to help people host other people and make them feel welcome.

The Symphony sold works by these stellar artists, with part of the proceeds going to our city’s orchestra. The evening included an auction and dancing. While I’d like to say it was our idea, “Into the Park” was actually the brainchild of Spencer Locher and Gaby Shain. Thank you to Spencer for inviting us in. We had a blast helping Chris Goeller of the Charlotte Symphony design the invitation. When we asked if we could put the two paintings below together to create the invitation, Gaby was not only open but managed to convince the artists to allow us to combine their works. The artists’ respect and fondness for one another are borne out in their combined works.

painting by Geoffrey Johnson

painting by Kim Scheussler

combined artwork of Geoffrey Johnson & Kim Scheussler

It is always more difficult to design and plan an event on a very tight budget. The amount of man hours and creative time that goes into producing something on a dime is astounding but that’s when you really find out what you can do. Spencer was determined this event would make money and she made it happen. We would also like to thank our partners who helped in this success by reducing their prices and saving on costs. I’ve not been involved in any other event where competitors worked together so generously and effortlessly.

photography by Cielo Studios

photography by Cielo Studios

photography by Cielo Studios

We also had the honor and privilege of working with Jonathan Martin, director of the Charlotte Symphony and Mike Warner, director of marketing for the Charlotte Symphony. Jonathan is a thoughtful, intelligent leader who has what it takes to turn our Symphony around. His “partner in crime” Mike Warner is every bit an artist as any of the musicians on the Symphony’s roster. The two of them make a powerful force and our Symphony is in a good place to become a place of strength for our arts community. It would be a devastating loss for the city of Charlotte should the Symphony not continue for all the obvious reasons but also for the risk of losing two very wonderful leaders and all the innovative plans they have for our artistic future.

Please consider supporting the Symphony financially.

Special thank you to:
Eye Dialogue
Elements
Blossom Shop
One Catering
Party Reflections

Atlas Shrugged, the novel by Ayn Rand released in 1957, has seen a resurgence of interest in 2009, even remaining in the top 10 best seller “Literature & Fiction” list on Amazon for weeks. Atlas Shrugged tells the story of a crumbling U.S. economy weighted down by crushing government interventions and regulations.While it would be easy to have a discussion on this book relating only our current economic and political situation to the narrative, it would be short-sighted. The novel is based on Rand’s philosophy, “Objectivism”. The principles of this philosophy are 1. “Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed” or “Wishing won’t make it so.” 2. “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.” 3. “Man is an end in himself.” 4. “Give me liberty or give me death.”

Looking past the political and economic parallels, the deeper issues are personal. They are issues arising from individuals who want a free ride, who make alliances and political decisions based purely on personal gain without regard to the big picture. They’ve missed connecting what they are doing with their end goals and ultimately destroy what they sought to create. It wouldn’t be a stretch to relate the book’s story to sustainability and social justice as easily as it relates to politics and economics.

Rand’s fictional world is a convenient one in which to espouse her philosophy. The sick, disabled, and children are not represented. Other social issues we face are not addressed here either. Possibly their omission was necessary to make her point. The question the book begs for me is, “What if our definition of morality was to live up to our highest potential in all things, to always operate with integrity and to use our minds to their fullest capability? Who would we be then? Where would we be now?”

The best part of this event is that there are so many different viewpoints. Each will be shared; all will be welcomed. Mo matter what your political views are, this event promotes thought. And deep thought can lead to valuable action.

Thank you Terry for inviting us to participate. We are delighted to be working with Julie Nance with Turning Point Advisors, Amanda Altman with A3 Design and Kelly Koeppel with K2 Design to produce this event.