Over the past 21 years, I have hosted over 2000 Mary Kay events (not counting the 8 years of 2-4 Classes per week). Many of these events required reservations. If you are in any kind of leadership position, in any arena of your life, then you more than realize most people do not know the true meaning of ‘RSVP’.

This summer I honestly had a light bulb moment. It dawned on me that the reason most people do not handle ‘RSVP’ correctly is they have never been taught.  Twenty-one years it took me to realize this….good grief!!

One of the lesson plans I taught at the high school level was proper etiquette in replying to a RSVP.  I figured somewhere along the way in life, everyone was taught the proper way to respond.

Emily Post has books and a web site dedicated to the subject but I would like to give you the "Linda Toupin -- Mary Kay" meaning.

RSVP simply means please respond. Yes or No please respond.  To not do so indicates very poor manners and outright rudeness.

Now since I know thousands and thousands of Mary Kay consultants and directors and none of them are rude ------I believe what has happened is simply lack of information.

When someone sends you a wedding invitation and it says on the bottom RSVP, that means please respond… yes or no respond. To not do so indicates very poor manners and outright rudeness.

When your National Sales Director or Sales Director says our Pacesetters requires an RSVP that means if you received the email, voice mail, or mailed invitation that means please respond….yes or no respond.

However… I believe what is behind all of this is something much deeper.  I believe why people do not respond is that they are waiting to see if they can come, they are waiting to see what their husband says, they are waiting to see if they can get a sitter, they are waiting to see if something else comes up… they are waiting. I am not so sure it is as simple as procrastination -- it is much deeper and deadly in the business world.  It is called allowing life and life’s circumstances to control you. When you have a "wait and see attitude" you are at the mercy of your circumstances and not at the helm of your ship.

Great leaders make a decision and then figure out how it will happen. I believe the average person does it the opposite, they try to figure it out and then make a decision. Great leaders do the opposite. They make decisions and then figure out how to make it work.

When your invitation comes this week to attend Pacesetters with an RSVP…………make a decision and then figure out how you will make that happen. To not respond truly does mean poor manners and rudeness.  Let’s always treat each others how we would want to be treated!