By: Mandy Stark, Senior Account Manager

My daughter, Lindsay, turned 10 this year. When I was 10, in 1987, this is what I cared about: my family, my friends, school, my Walkman (this is a pre-iPod, Millennial friends), my Guess jeans, my Swatch, watching the Facts of Life, Silver Spoons and Family Ties, the hair rock bands Bon Jovi and Poison, when I’ll get my next perm (such a bad idea), swimming in my pool, playing in the woods behind my house and riding my bike. I had decided that I would be an astronaut and didn’t think twice about how that would happen – I figured that it just would. Although I got a huge wake-up call that being an astronaut wasn’t going to happen, I have had a successful career as a reporter and then a communication professional. When I graduated from college in 2000, jobs were in abundance. At one point during my job search, I received three offers on the same day.

Times have certainly changed. While the market has slowly inched toward recovery, jobs are still somewhat scarce and nobody knows if the economy will ever go back to the way it was (you know, the Age of Innocence and Obliviousness). I can’t help but wonder if Lindsay will be challenged in finding a position when she graduates from college in 10 years or so.

I want her to have the same carefree childhood I did, but I also wonder if I should be getting her prepared for a much tougher and more competitive post-college experience than I had. I want Lindsay to be prepared, no matter what the economy is like. I constantly think about how I can help her be the best person she can be. The only way I know how to do that is to teach and lead by example. Below are eight guidelines that have helped me professionally and personally:

Smile – Smiles are free and can put somebody at ease, brighten their day and make them feel more comfortable. I automatically smile at everybody I see and usually, they smile back.

Say thank you verbally and in writing – You can never say thank you too many times.

Dress properly – Recognize where you’re going, who you’re seeing and what you’re doing so you can dress accordingly. If you question your outfit, don’t wear it.

Put people first – Let others out in traffic, offer to carry something heavy for a person struggling, allow another shopper with fewer items to check out before you or provide directions to somebody who looks lost. Small gestures make a huge difference.

Listen and learn – In conversations, let the person who initiated the discussion set the tone. I spend several minutes listening to somebody’s thoughts before I begin to speak. I also make sure not to dominate the conversation or do all the talking. Not to mention, I try to avoid interrupting others no matter how excited I get about what I want to say.

Be discreet ­– Don’t give away too much information. Unless it’s your best friend; not everybody needs to know every single detail.

Ignore gossip – The most trouble I’ve ever gotten in has been because I’ve opened my mouth when I shouldn’t have. If you absolutely must gossip, only do it with somebody you 100% trust. However, it’s best just to keep information to yourself. Word travels fast and you don’t want to be known as the source – people will not trust you again. Gossip can ruin somebody’s life, and career.

Be intuitive – As I’m learning in my new role at RB Oppenheim Associates, it is important to anticipate the needs of clients. On the other hand, I can usually sense when something isn’t right. When you know people’s patterns and personalities and notice something is off, give them a call or write them a note. This could open up a dialogue to solving a problem. If nothing is wrong, it will make a person feel special knowing that you were thinking about them.

For me, the bottom line is treating others well. It makes me feel good, it strengthens relationships and it makes life run just a little more smoothly. I feel a responsibility to do the right thing because Lindsay is watching and learning.

Today Lindsay said to me, “Mommy, I thought of a great motto today: ‘Nobody is perfect, but everybody is worth it.’” My heart sung, and at that moment, I got the feeling that somewhere along the way I did something right.