Put Your Best Foot Forward: United States of America: A Fearless Guide to Understanding the United States of America (Put Your Best Food Forward, Book 6, Band 6) - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Mary Murray Bosrock is the author and publisher of the award-winning Put Your Best Foot Forward books, a premier series on international communication. Unique in style, Mary's books both inform and entertain as she shares her knowledge in a lively, concise and easy-to-read format.

Mary's inaugural book was Put Your Best Foot Forward-Europe, a guide to intercultural communication and behavior in eighteen European countries. The entire first run of 7,000 books sold out in eleven weeks. A 10,000 copy first run of the second book in the series, Put Your Best Foot Forward-Asia sold over 4,000 copies in the first month. Put Your Best Foot Forward-Mexico/Canada and Put Your Best Foot Forward-Russia were released in October, 1994. Put Your Best Foot Forward-South America was printed in June, 1997. Put Your Best Foot Forward-USA came out in April, 1999.

The books have been used and recommended by experts across the nation. Many leading publications, including USA Today, have recommended the series. Mary has appeared on many television and radio programs, including CNN Worldview and CNN Headline News.

Mary also speaks at conferences and conventions regarding her international experiences. Her audiences have included such prominent organizations as Arthur Andersen Co., Northwest Airlines, and the Association for Corporate Travel Executives. In particular, Mary talks about customs and practices around the world as well as culturally appropriate behavior in a variety of real-life situations.

Mary and her husband, Ronald M. Bosrock, have taken numerous trips throughout the world, entertaining and being entertained in some of the world's most interesting locations. They have traveled as both international business executives and diplomats, as Ronald has served as Honorary Consul General for Austria in the U.S. for more than 15 years.

As the eastern bloc countries were opening, Mary was working in Hungary, former Czechoslovakia, former East Germany, Poland and former Yugoslavia. Mary was in Berlin as the Berlin Wall was coming down. She worked in China during the evolutionary period of the 80's. In 1991 Mary was involved in planning and implementing a major seminar in Russia which led to the establishment of the U.S./Russian Information Resource Institute in Moscow, and is presently on the board of New Russian Enterprises. Mary was in Hong Kong for the "Hand-Over" ceremonies when Hong Kong was officially turned over to China.

Mary is a former international editor of Foreign Trade Magazine, a member of the National Speakers Association, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Masters of International Business School at the University of St. Mary's. From 1989 to 1994, Mary and her husband ran Bosrock & Company, Inc., an international investment and market services firm assisting U.S. companies doing business abroad.

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Conversation Tips Americans compliment each other and strangers. The best response to a compliment is simply "Thank you." If you feel uncomfortable with a question asked of you, simply smile and say "In my country, that would be a strange question." It is best to not compliment a business associate of the opposite sex on his or her appearance. Regardless of your intent, a comment about someone's appearance could be misconstrued. Don't tell sexual jokes in the workplace, even in same-sex groups. You may hear others doing so, but in general it is a bad idea. Americans are uncomfortable with silence. Silence is avoided in social or business meetings. People will fill silence with small talk. The elevator is one of the few places that most Americans are quiet, probably because they are uncomfortable with close proximity to strangers. Silence is probably best. If you talk, do so softly. If you are in the back of the elevator when it reaches your floor, say "Excuse me, please" and people will clear a path for you. Never criticize the United States or the area in which you are visiting, doing business or living. Americans may criticize and probably do but will not like it if you complain. If you have to reprimand a person, do so in private never in public. Correcting strangers or subordinates in public is very offensive in the United States. It is rude to interrupt someone who is talking. Say "Excuse me" during a pause and wait to be recognized. Interruptions, however, are common. Do not be surprised if someone finishes your sentence if you hesitate when you are speaking. Americans value direct talk with no hidden meanings. You will be urged to "say what is on your mind." People who can speak well and express themselves in an interesting, informative, and succinct manner are admired. If you come from a culture that values quiet, reserved behavior and relies on nonverbal means of communication, you will find Americans too talkative and too loud. Some well-meaning people may try to force their religious beliefs on you. Some sects believe that this is a divinely inspired mission. Politely say "No thank you," and walk away. You may find the way Americans discuss money very crass. Refined Americans would agree with you. People with "inherited money" do not talk about it. Poor people do not talk about it. But people who have just earned it, won it, or gained it on the stock market do talk about it. Strangers may come up to you and start talking or casually ask you a question or even compliment you. Although vulgar, obscene, or profane language is used in movies and (some people believe) increasingly in conversation, such language is crude and is never acceptable. The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech. Americans take this very seriously. Many firmly believe that this amendment exists to nurture dissent. A person, however, making threatening remarks to an individual can be prosecuted for assault. Everyone in the United States is allowed to have an opinion about everything and express it openly. Everyone is allowed to disagree with anyone's opinion regardless of his or her position in society.