Just as a boomerang flies right back to the thrower, let compliments boomerang right back to the giver. Like the French, quickly murmur something that expresses ‘That’s very kind of you.’

Whenever someone persists in questioning you on an unwelcome subject, simply repeat your original response. Use precisely the same words in precisely the same tone of voice. Hearing it again usually quiets them down. If your rude interrogator hangs on like a leech, your next repetition never fails to flick them off.

Do you have a store clerk, accountant, law firm junior partner, tailor, auto mechanic, maitre d’, massage therapist, kid’s teacher – or any other worker you want special attention from in the future? The surefire way to make them care enough to give you their very best is send a Buttercup to their boss.

This is the look Winners have constantly. They stand with assurance. They move with confidence. They smile softly with pride. No doubt about it! Good posture symbolizes you are a man or woman who is used to being on top.

Instead of using your party’s name, casually let the pronoun he or she roll off your tongue. Forget ‘Uh, may I speak to Ms Bigshot please?’ Just announce, ‘Hi, Bob Smith here, is she in?’ Tossing the familiar she off your tongue signals to the secretary that you and her boss are old buddies.

Your posture is your biggest success barometer

No Whatzit? No host for Whoozat? No problem! Just sidle up behind the swarm of folks you want to infiltrate and open your ears. Wait for any flimsy excuse and jump in with ‘Excuse me, I couldn’t help but overhear …’

Don’t make your colleagues, your friends, your loved ones look at you and silently say, ‘Haven’t I been pretty good today?’ Let them know how much you appreciate them by caressing them with verbal Little Strokes like ‘Nice job!’ ‘Well done!’ ‘Cool!’

(Every job has some benefit or you wouldn’t get paid to do it.) The advice to the folks above is: Don’t say ‘estate agent.’ Say ‘I help people moving into our area find the right home.’