Rule #1 of good test-taking is to get the easy points. That’s actually good advice in life, too.

Here’s an easy point worth getting. If you’re sitting when you meet someone new, stand up.

Yes, you should also smile, shake hands, and introduce yourself. But you lose easy points if you can’t be bothered to even get out of your seat.

While I was typing away on my laptop at my local coffee shop yesterday, two working professionals conducted a job interview at the table next to mine. I have no idea how the interview went—it’s certainly possible the interviewee dazzled and now has a job offer in hand. But he didn’t stand up to greet his interviewer when she arrived, or when they parted ways. Those are easy points. There’s no excuse for losing them.

Here are a few more from a past post. And my book goes into even more detail in the chapter “Endearing: Ten Secrets of ‘Great Kids.’”

Just because the points are easy doesn’t mean they aren’t important.