Having been force-fed the customer service Kool-Aid by McDonald’s at the tender age of 16, I’ve always been fanatical about customer service. I bristle when the drive-thru employees of today hand me my change with a perfunctory, “Here.” And I make my children nuts with the constant reminders to say Please and Thank you, even though (or maybe especially because) they are teenagers.

Here, for your reading convenience, is Peter’s priceless article in its entirety:

What Ever Happened to “Please” and “Thank you?”

Thanks to my assistant being on vacation, I managed to show up at the airport five hours early for my flight this morning. With time to kill, I started walking around, and came across a Wendy’s. Knowing my burger chain trivia, I knew that Wendy’s serves burgers at any time of the day, even at 5:20am.

Ordering a single, as opposed to a triple, out of courtesy to my nutritionist, I waited for my order, and watched the three people after me order. Here’s what was said:

“Gimmie a #2 with a Large Coke.”

“You got any biscuits? Yeah? Gimmie 2.”

“Large coffee, one egg and cheese.”

What’s missing from all three transactions?

Manners.

When did we blatantly lose all our manners? When did we become, essentially, cavemen and women, grunting our requests and not even recognizing the efforts of those who grant them? It’s a sad, sad day for manners.

As I look around the airport, I see it everywhere – At gate D2, there’s a mad rush to get on the plane, as if you miss the first five minute boarding window, you won’t ever board again. And we know what causes this – The rush for overhead space, with every idiot bringing on as much as they possibly can in a carry-on that’s too big to begin with.

The person standing dead-center-middle of the moving sidewalk, so no one can pass him on either side. Perhaps we just didn’t know it was his moving sidewalk, not everyone’s.

The funny thing is, society’s lack of manners can actually benefit those who still have them in countless ways. I’ve gotten more flight upgrades than I can count, simply by being the really nice guy on line behind the douchebag. When he leaves, I greet the agent with a knowing “sorry you had to deal with that” smile, say “please” and “thank you,” and boom, I’m in seat 1A.

I was exiting an elevator yesterday, and allowed the woman next to me to exit first. As she walked out and said “thank you,” I said, “you’re welcome, Marianne.” I had looked at her name tag as she was exiting.

She came up to me at the end of my speech and said “You know, I just have to tell you, you’re the first person to call my by my actual name all day! That was so thoughtful!”

Why do we wear name tags at conferences if we don’t plan on calling people by their names?

People blame our lack of manners on our “rushed” society, where we’re constantly looking down at our Blackberries and iPhones, and not communicating. When it comes down to it, though, I think we’ve just stopped caring. And that’s kinda sad.

We’ve turned into an “I’ll get mine,” society, where we only seem to care about ourselves. And strictly speaking from a business perspective, is a guaranteed way to go bankrupt. It’s common knowledge that acting different than everyone else is a good way to get noticed. So here’s my challenge to you:

Go out of your way today to use good manners to a customer or client, someone serving you, and a friend. Watch the reaction. Then do it again tomorrow. Try it for a week or two. You’ll be amazed. You’ll see differences in your business, as well.

Sometimes, it really is the simplest of things, you know?

Thanks for reading.

And there’s another side to this coin: For three years Brian was the CBS News correspondent assigned to cover cyberspace. He was responsible for showing people the what was happening as well as he potential and possibilities of online media. He constantly looks for new online communications media with an eye towards how these new communication tools might move prospective customers to buy, motivate industry and financial analysts to recommend, cause competitors to be concerned and make employees proud.

Brian D. Johnson, +1.925.337.8911

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter

Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) Day is a community-based initiative to help friends and colleagues struggling to find jobs in the current economic climate. We are proudly posting bios from talented pros available for hire.

* Outstanding staff management, interpersonal, team building and communication skills used to successfully manage and lead change for five mergers/joint ventures – MillerCoors Brewing, Molson Coors Brewing Company, HP-Compaq, Compaq-Digital and Compaq-Tandem

* Creates strategic communication and marketing programs that build and enhance corporate brand and reputation

* Concrete approach to driving worldwide communication and marketing programs that span functional and group lines and organizational levels

* Ability to inform and influence press, industry analysts, financial analysts, customers, and prospects while motivating employees

* Exceptional ability to turn complex content into simple, highly charged and effective external and internal communications

* Recognized as a high-performance leader, motivating and collaborating with key stakeholders to build consensus

My specialties: Corporation communications including internal branding; internal communications; executive communications, visibility and brand; analyst, public and investor relations; customer communications; corporate brand and reputation; high-performance and collaborative leader; led change for five mergers or joint ventures

Melanie Rice, meerice@yahoo.com

Twitter, LinkedIn

Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) Day is a community-based initiative to help friends and colleagues struggling to find jobs in the current economic climate. We are proudly posting bios from talented pros available for hire.

Working in corporate environments such as AT&T Network Systems and the financial industry for Prudential Securities, she is a recognized meetings industry expert who has created and directed annual meetings, large-scale community events, investor gatherings, press launches, performing arts events, corporate awards events and live shows. Sara’s innovative marketing programs and films are targeted and honed to deliver a message and create calculated results. They are also designed to engage participants in relevant and meaningful activity and thought – purpose that feels like play. Mergers, bad news or transitions that feel like adventure.

With a background in the arts and marketing, Sara is able to find the resonant chord to build brand and give voice and presence to organizations and campaigns. Her background includes being a Director of Sales and Marketing at a top luxury resort and managing global marketing communications, advertising, e-marketing, meetings and trade shows. As a documentary filmmaker and painter, she is sensitive to the components of conceiving and designing communications that people care about. On a personal note, Sara is Marketing Chair of the Livermore Valley Opera, and resides in the East Bay. Projects? Particularly interested in corporate giving, executive meetings, and projects where passion and purpose are combined.

Sara Nealy, saranealy.com, LinkedIn

mobile: 808.987.8098, office: 925.399.5242

Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) Day is a community-based initiative to help friends and colleagues struggling to find jobs in the current economic climate. We are proudly posting bios from talented pros available for hire.

I have planned and managed hundreds of product launches and other outreach campaigns, resulting in increases in brand credibility and publicity of up to 1500%. I have broad-ranging experience with top-tier analyst organizations, national business media, trade and vertical industry editors and bloggers, and four years experience working with Twitter, Facebook and other social media.

Most of my big name brands are in the past, as I primarily work with start-ups and mid-size companies these days. A lot of my recent work is in the mobile wireless arena, which with Apple, Google Android and others is a pretty happening place these days. My personality is practical and hard working rather than flashy. I love learning about new technologies and getting results for my clients. My recent successes include a roll out of the “Nirvana Phone” concept for my client Open Kernal Labs (a small mobile virtualization company) and its partner Citrix. We got coverage in Engadget, SlashGear, VentureBeat, ReadWriteWeb and dozens of other venues; rave reviews from analysts; and Tweets and ReTweets in the hundreds. Now that’s what I call fun!

Patricia Colby, 408-828-2861, trishcolby@gmail.com

LinkedIn, Twitter

Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) Day is a community-based initiative to help friends and colleagues struggling to find jobs in the current economic climate. We are proudly posting bios from talented pros available for hire.

He is highly skilled in media placement and media relations, having run media operations on three continents, working with journalists from around the world. He has extensive research, social media and media analysis experience and is proficient in Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop. He’s a PR Swiss Army knife and he’s looking for a gig in San Diego. http://bit.ly/cewRxl

Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) Day is a community-based initiative to help friends and colleagues struggling to find jobs in the current economic climate. We are proudly posting bios from talented pros available for hire.

Just some of the top flight companies I have helped meet their business objectives include: Cisco, HP, IBM, Genentech, Palm, VeriSign, and Boston Scientific.

You can reach me at: (408) 828-0240, jcashman01@gmail.com, LinkedIn

Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) Day is a community-based initiative to help friends and colleagues struggling to find jobs in the current economic climate. We are proudly posting bios from talented pros available for hire.

My career path has included extensive experience in message development, media relations, executive communications (including the preparation of executive speeches and coaching executives in delivery and audience analysis), communications planning, event planning, merger communications, and community relations. I believe the key to successful communications is understanding the audience, knowing where we want to take them, and then communicating to make a memory.

I have work experience with Fortune 500 companies (Cisco, AT&T, Sun), non-profits (Kaiser Permanente), public utilities (Pacific Bell), my own private practice, and start-ups (Care Touch, Evoke Software). There is very little in Corporate Communications that I have not seen or done, and I would be thrilled to put that experience to work for companies participating in HAPPO.

Clients (Partial List): San Francisco 49ers, Cisco Systems, Sybase, Carpenter/Robbins Commercial Real Estate, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., Waterford Family Dental Group, Summit Financial Services, Crooked Vine/Stony Ridge Wineries, Lazarex Cancer Foundation, Alliance of CEOs, Society for American Baseball Research

Paul Hirsch: (925) 736-0976, paullhirsch@yahoo.com, LinkedIn, Facebook

Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) Day is a community-based initiative to help friends and colleagues struggling to find jobs in the current economic climate. We are proudly posting bios from talented pros available for hire.

During the last decade I reported on the news, trends and personalities that populate the tech sector worldwide. Recently expanded her scope to include writing about the convergence of technology and hospitality sectors. Major clients include East Bay Agency for Children, University of California Haas School of Business, Comstock, Prosper, Acura, San Joaquin, Bay Area Kids, Port O Call, Valley Lifestyle and Solano magazines, Office.com, Upside Magazine, Tech Republic, ZDNetUK and Australia, Business Communications Co, Emerging Business Magazine, California Technology Magazine, Executive Traveler, and Journeys Magazines, Tourism-Review and TravelTalkRADIO.com.

Scope of my writing genre includes: features, white papers, news and views, company profiles, case histories, ghostwriting, copywriting, online media kits, advertorials and product reviews.

My latest venture, the Vallejo Community Examiner blog, expresses my passion to celebrate the people, places and events that make my home, the city of Vallejo, such a compelling place to live and visit.

Patricia Kutza: LinkedIn, 707.319.4184 (cell), pkutza@pacbell.net
I post all my blog entries under the Twitter handle, Hiredhand.

Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) Day is a community-based initiative to help friends and colleagues struggling to find jobs in the current economic climate. We are proudly posting bios from talented pros available for hire.

Che’ (Cheryl) Vyfhuis is a seasoned public relations professional with more than 20 years’ experience and has worked in industries, ranging from Chemical to Information Technology. She started out as an editorial writer at ABC-TV in Chicago and since then has migrated up the ranks at several corporations that include IBM, The Clorox Company, SGI, Cisco Systems and others. She began her career on the West Coast as regional public relations manager for the American Electronics Association in Santa Clara.

Vyfhuis currently is a consultant working on Information Technology, Healthcare and Consumer projects and focuses on Internal & External Communications, Crisis Communications, Media Relations Strategy, Events Planning , and Social Media Networking. A stellar writer with a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois, Champaign, Vyfhuis also is an author of a motivational book. She serves on the Silicon Valley Network’s Healthcare and Energy/Environmental Committees. Vyfhuis is active on Twitter, FaceBook and LinkedIn. Contact her via email: chevyfhuis@vyfhuis.com

Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) Day is a community-based initiative to help friends and colleagues struggling to find jobs in the current economic climate. We are proudly posting bios from talented pros available for hire.