Photo by fauxels from Pexels by Sharon Schweitzer, Culture & Etiquette Coach As more folks are headed to work mixers, neighborhood cookouts, and soccer games with the kiddos, we are receiving questions about making conversation. What are the best ways to introduce yourself and others in a social or work gathering? How [...]
Prague castle in the Czech Republic, Hlavní město Praha, CzechiaImage by Julius Silver from Pexels As a frequent business traveler, I seek opportunities to bring thoughtful gifts from Austin when I travel to Central and Eastern Europe. My business counterparts enjoy original Texas products including AustinNuts, Lammes Candies Longhorns, and Texas Map linens. So, how do I [...]
A blue and white Texas porcelain tray is nestled beautifully among other cherished gifts on the office coffee table of Madam Nie Meisheng. She is the former Chairwoman of the Chinese Real Estate Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, China. When I gifted this eye-catching, artfully scalloped ‘made-in-Texas, USA’ tray, I intended it to be a special item [...]
Image by Biljana Jovanovic from Pixabay A new Shutterfly poll, conducted by Ipsos, has revealed that two in five U.S. Americans plan to send out holiday cards or give personalized gifts to connect this 2021 holiday season, a significant increase of nearly 24% from 2020. So, during this pandemic holiday season, individuals, families, and [...]
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay When looking to expand abroad or partner with a multinational firm, even the most successful business professionals get blindsided by unexpected cross-cultural differences. The reality is that certain business practices- including regulation, contract mediation, and decision making- vary widely according to the cultures in negotiation. Before you [...]
Photo by Jason Villanueva from Pexels We owe a debt of gratitude to an animal herder named Kaldi for the discovery of coffee in the Kaffa region in Ethiopia. According to the story, he observed that his goats were rejuvenated after eating the red beans from the coffee plants on the plateau over [...]
Photo by Ivan Samkov from Pexels Whether writing to upper-level management or to a first-time client, crafting an error-free email can be tricky even for the most educated professionals. Certain grammar mistakes are common, while others are subtle. Any of these errors will make a less-than-positive impression on your reader. Proofread your business [...]
Image by hakan german from Pixabay With free COVID-19 vaccines readily available to any person over 12 years of age in the U.S., and not everyone choosing to partake – it is a tricky conversation to navigate. With the Delta variant surging and the general unpredictability of the virus, it’s become downright awkward navigating this conversation with colleagues, [...]
Krakow Poland Image by Sharon Schweitzer As an industrial powerhouse of Central Europe, Poland attracts the attention of businesses and investors worldwide. The economic forecast for Poland for 2021 and 2022 reflects steady growth according to the May 2021 European Economic Forecast. Poland’s economy is projected to grow by 4.0% in 2021 and 5.4% in 2022, with [...]
Image by Leo_65 from Pixabay Mobile phones are an integral part of our everyday life and leaving home without them can leave us feeling naked and even anxious. July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, and it’s the perfect time to reflect on our mobile habits. Let’s maximize the benefits of our [...]
