Kirt Manecke - Smile & Succeed for Teens: Must-Know People Skills for Todays Wired World

PRAISE FROM TEENS

Smile & Succeed for Teens helped me realize that the way you put yourself into the world matters.

NINA

Now I know when to have my phone out and when not to.

ISABELLE

I found the book personally inspiring. I would not have known what to do and what not to do in an interview.

JEREMIAH

This book is very helpful as I often look down when I talk and I also have bad posture.

BRANDON

The book is valuable. For instance, I didnt really know there was a specific way to shake someones hand.

HANNAH

My big brother and I want to start a dog-walking business. Smile & Succeed for Teens will really help us get started.

CHASE

This book helped me with eye contact, shaking hands, greeting people, and knowing what to wear for special occasions. I learned when to not be on my phone.

GABI

I found this book very helpful in using proper body language. I slouch a lot and now I know it isnt very respectful.

NOLAN

Smile & Succeed for Teens is useful to me because I am shy. I am a babysitter and I learned to smile and make eye contact. I love the pictures!

ISABELLA

Now I know how to act in an interview.

JAICIE

The book is effective as I am not the best with eye contact.

MATTHEW

I like the tips and directions on smiling and how to shake hands.

DEVON

I use this book to prepare for an interview, get a job, learn how to speak to adults, and more.

CHLOE

I learned how not smiling can affect me. I am glad I read it.

ANGELINA

Made in the U.S.A.

Copyright 2014 by Kirt Manecke

All rights reserved.

This publication is protected under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state, and local laws. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in reviews and articles.

Published by Solid Press, LLC. Inquiries about this book should be addressed to the publisher: Solid Press, LLC, PO Box 145, Milford, MI 48381, or 248-685-0483.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014904957

www.SmileforTeens.com

Legal Notice

Please note that much of this publication is based on personal experience that has worked for the author. Your particular situation may not be exactly the same, and you should adjust your use of the information accordingly. Nothing in this book is meant to replace legal/professional advice. Please note that company websites, while accurate at the time of publication, are subject to change. Websites printed in this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of Solid Press, LLC, nor do we vouch for the content of these sites for the life of this book.

Special discounts for bulk purchases are available for educational, business, fundraising or sales promotional use. Special editions or book excerpts can also be created to specifications. For details, please contact the Special Sales Department, Solid Press, LLC, PO Box 145, Milford, MI 48381, or .

Summary: A quick, easy-to-read people and business skills handbook to help middle school and high school age teens succeed in school, work, and life.

Book Design: Becky Terhune

Illustrations: Andre Jolicoeur

ISBN: 978-0-9850762-1-4

ISBN: 9780985076221

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book is donated to animal welfare.

For young people working to

make our world a better place.

And to my parents, John and Betsy

they lovingly taught me manners and

how to treat people with respect.

My business successes are in

large part due to them.

Also by Kirt Manecke:

Smile: Sell More with Amazing Customer Service

CNTENTS

Writing a book is a team effortI doubt many people could go it alone. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to all those who have contributed to this project: book publishing ace Becky Ferguson, English teacher and mother Sharon Hammer, teacher consultant Tammy Hansford, author Steve Fadie, teacher Rachel Ferguson, teacher Alicia Quintana, business coach Colleen Kilpatrick, sales expert Larry Betzler, bookstore buyer Pam Herman, librarian and grandmother Phyllis Brantingham, mother Tammy Duncan, product development expert Karen May, mother and customer service advocate Kathy Olak, mother of six Debi Lundwall, father and small business owner Peter Wottowa, father and author Joe Keller, customer service professional Amy Gresock, business leader Richard Lindhorst, book publishing expert Kim Walter, content editor Paula Manzanero, and the helpful trio of women at Main Street Art in downtown Milford, Michigan.

A huge thank-you to a superstar group of teens who made certain the content is valuable, relevant, and easy to read: Nick Keller, Terena Weitkamp, Ben Gottlieb, Sasha Dudock, Nova Rayner, and Curtis Schmitt.

A special thank-you to my parents, John and Betsy Manecke, and to my late uncle Gene Balogh, whose spirit and work have always been an inspiration to me.

Thank you to my wonderful editor Liz Parks for pulling this book together.

And finally thank you to all my friends and colleagues, including those not mentioned here, for their very valuable insight, patience, and support in this endeavor.

Smiling can be a competitive advantageit makes every person feel a little better, and every situation a little brighter.

RICHARD BRANSON, FOUNDER OF VIRGIN GROUP, A LEADING INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP

When I was a teen I had a successful paper route, then a lawn-mowing service. Later I worked on the grounds crew at a golf course. Good people skills were key to my success.

You may wonder, exactly what are people skills? How do I learn them? The good news is, having good people skills is not that complicated. This book shows you exactly what you need to know.

In todays wired world, cell phones and other electronics, texting, and email are a reality. This makes having great people skills even more important. Smile & Succeed for Teens is based on my award-winning first book, Smile: Sell More with AmazingCustomer Service. Written for employers and employees, Smile received praise not only from the business community, but also from parents and educators. Every teen in America needs to read this book! one parent exclaimed. It teaches important people skills kids need to succeed in their job and in life.

With input from a variety of teens, educators, and parents, I created a customized version of Smile just for you. Like my first book, the tips and techniques on the following pages are based on the same proven customer service and sales methods used by successful businesses all over the world. These techniques will help you make more friends and earn more money. In addition, Ive added valuable information on finding and keeping a job, overcoming stress, and the benefits of volunteering.

Good people skills are essential for landing a job and succeeding in your career. Getting a job can be very challenging and frightening.