My wife and I love to entertain in our home. A lot can be said for having friends over: you save money on food, you control the volume of the environment and if someone gets too drunk, they can sleep it off in your living room.
The most important part of entertaining though is being a good host. Being a good host is much more than making sure everyone has a frosty beverage or a tour of the abode, you must make your guests feel comfortable. Many times I have visited a friend's home and could not wait until 9:00 when I felt it was safe to make my goodbyes. Other times I felt so comfortable I almost took off my shoes and laid down on the couch.
I have found one thing to be the deciding factor when it comes to determining what kind of experience I will have and that is the greeting I receive from the host(s). I make it a point when people come into my home to approach them. Unless I have my hands full putting out a fire, I walk up to my guests and welcome them. You make a couple of seconds of small talk, shake hands, kiss cheeks and introduce them to the others. You make sure that they have a comfortable environment to walk into. Nothing bothers me more than having to find the host and than wade, on my own, through a sea of strangers.
Remember the next time you have a party in your castle to APPROACH and GREET all guests. You have to be the port in the storm for the people that do not know anyone. You make get stuck in the corner talking to the guy that has seen Lord of the Rings 54 times, but that is the price you pay for making people happy in your home.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
LISTEN TO ME!
I just recently started a new job and officially work with the weirdest guy ever. Unfortunately he is the guy training me to do my job. The other day I was discussing a problem that I was having and he started "practicing his golf swing". He really got into it. He methodically set his hands around the phantom club, bent his knees and wiggled his hips. I kind of got the impression that I was not getting his full attention. Although he was answering my questions, I could not get past the rudeness of the situation.
After a moment of his Tiger Woods emulation, I opted to practice my "batting". I picked the imaginary bat that was right for me. I set it properly in my hands when I remembered my old coaches advice about "choking up". I assumed my correct right handers stance and swung away.
My fellow workers began to snicker at he and I having a conversation while practicing our respective sports. After about 2 minutes, he looked up and asked what the hell I was doing. He could not comprehend that I was just using our time to practice as well.
After we finished, he walked away. My supervisor approached me with a grin on his face and said our office Fred Couples has never played golf a day in his life. Are you kidding me? What kind of f-ing weirdo does that? It takes all kinds I guess, but I think Ferris Bueller said it best with, "it's understanding that helps people like me tolerate people like yourself".
After a moment of his Tiger Woods emulation, I opted to practice my "batting". I picked the imaginary bat that was right for me. I set it properly in my hands when I remembered my old coaches advice about "choking up". I assumed my correct right handers stance and swung away.
My fellow workers began to snicker at he and I having a conversation while practicing our respective sports. After about 2 minutes, he looked up and asked what the hell I was doing. He could not comprehend that I was just using our time to practice as well.
After we finished, he walked away. My supervisor approached me with a grin on his face and said our office Fred Couples has never played golf a day in his life. Are you kidding me? What kind of f-ing weirdo does that? It takes all kinds I guess, but I think Ferris Bueller said it best with, "it's understanding that helps people like me tolerate people like yourself".
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