Good manners aren’t just about being polite — they’re about making other people feel seen.

William Hanson is one of the world’s leading etiquette coaches. He’s advised royalty, CEOs, and television personalities on how to communicate with clarity, confidence, and grace. But his mission goes far beyond fine dining or proper handshakes.

In today’s fast-paced, informal world, William argues that etiquette isn’t outdated — it’s essential. Whether you’re trying to land a job, win over a client, or simply connect with others, good manners are your most underrated advantage.

He sat down with me to share how etiquette builds trust, why it’s not about snobbery or perfection, and how anyone — regardless of background — can learn the unspoken codes that open doors.

This… is a Bit of Optimism.

Check out William’s new book Just Good Manners here

And learn more about his work here.

You have two years left to live. What would you do?

That's a real question Angela Trimbur had to answer. In 2018, a breast cancer diagnosis forced her to get honest with herself. If Angela had only 2 years to live, what kind of life did she truly wish to live? Angela chose to start over. She sold everything she owned, moved to New York City, and became a dance teacher. Angela's irreverent teaching style and unique approach to dance won her accolades, and she now teaches sold out classes where people use dance to find themselves.

In this conversation, Angela explains why cancer actually helped her become a better version of herself. She shares how her disease enabled her to adopt a 2-years outlook on life, and why living as if our time is limited is always good practice, even when nothing appears to be wrong.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Angela and her work, check out:

Angela Trimbur Dance

When morale problems affect a team, some leaders choose to make a big, rousing speech. But quite often, it’s the quiet leader who leads with empathy that sees a better emotional solution.

Gordon Schmidt is a retired Navy SEAL with enough combat experience to understand that empathy is an operational advantage, not a weakness. After 20 years of military service, he started his second act as a high school rowing coach. According to Gordo, be it coaching rowers or leading soldiers, the emotional lessons he’s learned about leadership apply just the same.

In this conversation, Gordo shares with me how to move on into a new chapter in life and why emotional intelligence in high-stress situations is often a leader’s only way out.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Gordon and his work, check out:

San Diego Rowing Club