By Ryder S. Ziebarth It’s late spring, and as a lifelong gardener, and currently, the first vice-president and chairman of the Garden History and Design Committee of the Garden Club of Somerset Hills, this time of year, full of beautiful blooms, brings both delight and dread.  From  mid-May to mid-June, when my peonies bowl me →

 By: Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick “I’m one of those strange people: I really love going to the gym.”                                          -Julianne Margulies I must say I agree with Julianne Margulies: I really love going to the gym; and have been an avid gym goer since I moved to Manhattan over twenty years ago. Not only does it make me →

By: Jennifer Roach  While dining etiquette is often discussed and dissected, restaurant-specific tips are not quite as commonplace, despite the frequency with which business and social entertaining takes place in our society. Rarer still are guides specifically aimed at the service professionals who make up half of this staff/patron arrangement. Here are ten tips each →

By: Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick Technical skills and knowledge account for 15 percent of the reason you get a job, keep a job, and advance in a job. Eighty –five percent of your success is connected to your people skills. Based on research conducted by Harvard University, The Carnegie Foundation, and The Standard Research Institute. 1. Arrive →

“The Meal is the emblem of society. The most important human relationships are all celebrated with or nourished by the sharing of food. “ -James and Kay Salter, “Life is Meals” It is food that brings together friends and families to celebrate all the special occasions in our life. Following is The Etiquette School of →

   THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF SUCCESS Adapted from Charles M. Schwab “Success is not final, failure not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”   -Winston Churchill  1. Word Hard: Hard work is the best investment a person can make. 2. Study Hard: Knowledge enables a person to work more intelligently and effectively. 3. Have Initiative: Ruts often deepen into graves. 4. Love Your Work: Then you will find pleasure in mastering it. 5.Be Exact: Slipshod methods bring slipshod results. 6.Have the Spirit of Conquest: Thus you can successfully battle and overcome difficulties. 7.Cultivate Personality: Personality is to a person what perfume is to the flower. 8.Help and Share with Others: The real test of business greatness lies in giving opportunity to others. 9.Be Democratic: Unless you feel right toward others, you can never be a successful leader. 10. In All Things Do Your Best: The person who has done his best has done everything. The person who has done less than his best has done nothing.  “ I am a success today →

By: Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick For junior staff members, formal business meetings at your office are a great opportunity for you to make a good impression. When you conduct yourself in a professional manner, it will be noticed by your boss and senior management. Then, when the time comes for deciding who should be promoted, and who →

By: Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick It’s another rainy week in New York City, so I thought it might be a good idea to give everyone a gentle reminder of the rules of the sidewalk when carrying an umbrella. 10 Tips to Avoid Umbrella Rage: Carry an umbrella that’s appropriate for your size—one that you can manage. If →

By Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick  “Etiquette provides the knowledge, and gives the confidence to pass the test of life.”     - Elizabeth L. Post Many say etiquette instruction is outdated and has no relevance for today’s children. But is that true? Certainly not. It is true that many of the rules of etiquette from the past are →

By: Alyson Murphy Body language is a fundamental part of courtship. In fact, 80 percent of what we say is nonverbal. If you would like to attract a mate or convince your significant other that you really care this Valentine’s Day, we recommend you try the following top 10 flirting signals. Smile. It makes you →