Several years ago I was brought in to do some consulting work for one of the Ritz Carlton Hotels. While there, I learned a valuable lesson. (The first lesson is how often I learn more from my clients than they learn from me. Sometimes I wonder who should be paying whom.) :-)

Whenever crossing paths with any of their staff - and I do mean "any" of their staff - they'll NEVER greet you with "How ya' doin'? They also won't greet you with, "Hey", "How are ya?", "How's it goin'?", or "What's up?" It's either "Good morning", "Good afternoon", or "Good evening." Wow, what an impressive way to be greeted.

Do you realize that every other hotel in the world - from Motel 6's to Marriotts and in between - could do that as well, without costing them a single extra penny in expenses? They could bring themselves just a notch closer to the Ritz Carlton and an all-star impression by making that single adjustment.

They could . . . but they won't. Why not? As Jim Rohn would say, "I don't know, they just won't."

We can, individually, do the same as the Ritz Carlton as well, with great results. As you know, how we greet strangers, neighbors, prospects, and anyone else, is the first impression they will have of us. And we all know the saying regarding first impressions.

Want to make a great Winning Without Intimidation impression on a person? Then do away with all of the typical greeting "non-questions." You know - those questions to which you neither expect, nor want, an answer.

"How ya' doin'? is always the worst one to me. Why? Because I was the worst when it came to saying that. What's better is "Good morning", "Good afternoon", or "Good evening."

Or, do you know what else works just as well? A big, friendly smile that just radiates how happy you are to see them, and the word, "Hi!" Yes, you can do the same as the Ritz Carlton . . . and I bet you will.

Bob Burg http:www.burg.com is author of Endless Referrals: Network Your Everyday Contacts Into Sales, Winning Without Intimidation and The Success Formula.

He has a full line of books, ebooks and CDs from which everyone can grow and prosper. Check them out by going to http:www.burg.com , then click on the link to his online store. Bob also publishes a free weekly ezine to which you can subscribe going to http://www.burg.com/newsletter.html.