Which One Is My Bread Plate???

Have you ever sat at a table, looked at the formal place setting of dishes before you and wondered, "Which one is my bread and butter plate?"

Rainmakers, both young and old, often ask themselves this question. The quick answer is that the bread and butter plate is the small plate above your fork and to the upper left of your big dinner plate. It is important to know the placement of this plate because if you use the wrong one, you will throw off everyone else at the table.

Here are two quick tips to remember the placement of the bread and butter plate.

1. If you are a car fanatic, think BMW - Bread, Meal, Water. When looking at your place setting, the Bread plate will be your first plate on the left, the Meal will be served on the big plate in the middle and your Water glass will be on the right.

2. With both hands, make the OK sign with your fingers. If you straighten all of your fingers except the thumb and index finger, your hands will form the letters "b" and "d." Your left hand will form the letter "b" which stands for bread. Your bread and butter plate is on the left. Your right hand will form the letter "d" which stands for drinks. Your drinks are on the right. You now know the correct placement of your bread and butter plate and your drinks.

Cheers!

Present Like a Pro!

Nonverbal Cues Can Make or Break a Presentation


At times, our appearance, tone of voice and mannerisms communicate far more than our words. The nonverbal cues we send to an audience during a presentation can electrify them, captivate them or put them to sleep. Often speakers focus solely on the content of their speech and fail to consider the nonverbal cues that they are sending. Accomplished speakers coordinate their words, gestures, tone, nonverbal cues - the entire package when preparing for a speech.

Steve Jobs of Apple is a compelling public speaker. He practices not only the content of his speech but the visual images and nonverbal cues that he wants the audience to see. The narrator in this video does an excellent job of highlighting Jobs' nonverbal cues and contrasts Jobs' presentation style with those of a less accomplished and less prepared speaker. The contrast is fascinating and very instructive. Please take a moment to view the video. It is well worth your time.