Solo Practice

Yes, this is a real video of an elephant painting a self-portrait.  Legitimate. 

And my point remains, if elephants are intelligent enough to learn how to paint a self-portrait, why can't today's youth learn manners?

Why am I ranting on my own site?  Because as I drill my 4 year old on the importance of saying, 'please' and 'thank you', teaching him to respect others, I see young people in customer service who don't know the words, don't know when to use them, alienating customers...and this translates to the most basic courtesies we offer to our own clients on the telephone, in our initial consultations, the courtroom, follow up upon a legal matter's conclusion and more.

I had read about a year ago how Big Law firms were bringing in etiquette consultants to educate their associates on the most basic manners.  What is happening to our society?

OK.  What set me off?  I've been noticing it more and more recently and it's been irking me.  Then today I was starving and did the unthinkable...I went to McDonald's drive through.  By the time I was done with the whole experience....waiting for that thank you which should have come effortlessly with handing me my change...it was just handed to me and the employee looked off in space.  That was it.  I couldn't hold it back. "Did anyone ever teach you to say 'please' or 'thank you' or 'have a nice day' even if you don't mean it!!!  He just continued to stare at his register and waited for me to leave swallowing hard enough his adam's apple bounced a couple of times.

The other thing which irks me no end is going to a restaurant looking incredibly feminine and the waiter or waitress comes up and says, "Can I get you guys anything to drink?"  Guys?  I'm no guy.  There is absolutely no way to confuse me with a guy.  I may not be poofed up and wearing a pink tutu, but there is no confusion. And these are very nice restaurants.  What are the waiters being taught when it comes to customer service?  It's the little things which will make people come back or not when dealing with you or your firm.  It's not the fanciest office.  It's not over-priced letterhead.  It is common courtesy and respect.

Thank you for listening.

End of rant.