Good afternoon gentlemen. I attended a business function the latter part of this morning that also constituted a luncheon. There were many people there and many that I have met before and had had conversations with. Since I have been on this journey, I have had many people that would pick me out of the crowd and would make a point to approach me and introduce and start a conversation. Please do not get me wrong I love meeting people and having discussions with them. But there are those times that you end up in a situation that the person or people that you ended up engaged in a conversation that is of one that you really do not want to be in, what do you do? Well you do not want to act like you do not want to be bother, or that they are not of importance. ( Keep in mind you never know who you are talking to or who is watching you.) You definitely do not want to tell them that you are not interested in what they have to say or just walk off. So how do you handle this type of situation? Well I found this to be one of the best ways possible that keeps you from looking like the bad person, or an anti social person. One thing that I do when I walk in a large meeting room or assembly area, I first scan to see who is all present, are there people that I know there?Are there people that are there that I been wanting to meet? Are there people that I know and want to avoid such as people that like to hear themselves talk, or people that like to discuss things that I do not wish to engage in. When I get into a situation with some that I really do not wish to be engaged in a conversation, while I am talking or listening to this person I quickly but without being noticed scan the room for some that person I feel they have common interest with. Then at the most opportune time I will say “ Have you met (and the person name ) and say I know you two have a lot in common, and I either motion that person over or I would gradually move our conversation over to where that person is. I make the introduction, and as they began to engage I find an opportune time to remove myself from the conversation with a politely “ Excuse me for a moment” or something to that affect.

Good morning gentlemen, You know there was a time in the early 40’s,50’s, 60’s, and yes even the 70’s that when a person was not dressed properly people would look at them and stare at them. They were considered the outcast or the person that stood out in a crowd. Flip to today, when people see a person in dress or professional clothes, they wandered who died or what they did that they ended up in court. Seriously, looking nice, and personal upkeep is now the taboo. Being seen in public unkept is the norm now. Women coming out in pajamas pants, no makeup ,hair unkept is the norm, or even worse dressing like men wearing me gym clothes like basketball shorts and tops. Men throwing on sweat pants, sliders for shoes, or wearing clothes that don’t fit. No care, not thought put into their appearance, this is the norm today. Now when people see someone dressed up nice they look at them weird and stare at people wandering why they are dressed like that. Is this the signs of the times? Does it have to be? No I believe that the more of us that are seen as men and women rather than people in a crowd of clones all wearing the same things and following the person they see next to them. A studied shows that when you hang around 4-5 people you become the average is those people. So if we place ourselves in the norm we become the norm, but we can reverse the norm by leading by example. Make history repeat itself by bringing back the society of gentlemen and ladies. This is part of the reason why we are here, now let’s rewrite history.

Good morning gentlemen, I have a question for you this morning, are you a people person? Now for me I like people, but I am not a very outgoing type person that will immediately try to make friends or just walk up and introduce myself randomly. So if you are this type person you are not alone. The sad part is more and more people are being this way because of the world we live in. The caution flags seem to stay raised. Yes we need to always be cautious, but not to where it prevents us from getting to know certain people. For me, I had people say that I look mean or unapproachable. I don’t think that I am or come across as this. But if I hear that from several people then I need to take a look at this and I have. So why is this important? Because when you are making connections this is important, you do not have to be the life of the party but you want people to feel you are approachable. This is very important if you are wanting to make connections beside, that first impression is what people remember. My brother and gentleman Nicholas Logan in this community spoke the other day and I have spoken about getting to know certain people that you frequent their establishments. This could be your dry cleaner, your tailor, the bartender, waitress or waiter, you want to get to know people at places that you frequent a lot because these are the ones that serve you and will also look out for you. For example, there are a few places that I and my wife frequent and also places that I take my clients to, so when I walk into a particular restaurant I am greeted by the person at the door by my name, They also know who my favorite waiter or waitress is so if they ar working they will seat me where they are working. Why? Because that person at the door recognizes me, and that waiter or waitress made sure that they know when me or my wife walks in they get assigned to us because we give them respect and we also tip them well for their service. The bartender, he knows my name and what my favorite drink is and how I like it. This not only impresses my clients, but they see that these people know me and respect me and I respect them as well.

This last Sunday I went to the Nordstrom Icon and Ambassador Holiday Party, and the beginning of the evening could not have been more beautiful. I brought my wife’s best friend as my guest. I shop at Nordstrom often and she does not, so I wanted her to enjoy the full experience. We had registered ahead of time, checked in at the door, and joined the line that moved toward the entrance. As we stepped inside, the atmosphere felt festive and thoughtful. A live brass band played by the entrance while artificial snowflakes drifted through the air, which is amusing in San Diego but still charming. We walked along a red carpet as employees clapped and welcomed each guest. Someone placed a glass of champagne in my hand as we passed. It felt warm, celebratory, and well put together. Inside the party we stopped at the journal station. They were embossing names on the covers. My guest picked out a Peanuts themed journal and had her husband’s name added. He loves journals and Peanuts, so it was the perfect combination for him. Watching her light up over that gift was a highlight of the night. We continued through the event, trying hot chocolate (you would be in shock at these), which was excellent, and cannolis, along with hors d’oeuvres and sparkling waters. Everything felt generous and carefully arranged. For a while we were simply enjoying the evening. We talked about stopping at the bar, but before that I took her to the men’s fragrance section so she could test a few scents. That is when the night shifted. Two employees nearby were talking. A younger associate asked why the store felt so busy. The response came in a tone that was impossible to misunderstand. “They let the ambassadors in,” she said, and she shook her head with a level of disdain that carried the feeling of calling people peasants without using the word. My guest heard it clearly. She looked at me and said, “If ambassadors are spoken about like that, then what am I.” She had come as my guest, and that single comment hit her unexpectedly hard. It changed her entire experience in a matter of seconds.

I have 6 back to back meetings today including a boyscout board meeting. This time of year I deliver gifts along with account reviews to almost all my families I help . They have come to expect my deceased father in laws pastries (owned a bakery that was an OKC staple from 1946 until his retirement in 2010). His mother had a recipe for an Almond pound cake that my wife makes that seems to be a favorite. OOTD Blue Robert Talbot window pane sport coat Ct pink twill French cuff with Guinness links Silk cream brown and blue pocket square Trionna Irish waist coat brown herringbone w blue over lay Deep brown wide wale cords Pendleton brown socks Alden Indy boots Ernest Borell 1940’s automatic watch