Chapter 4Transportation: Getting There Can Be Half the Fun

Drive your client to andfrom a business lunchwhenever possible.

“Shall I meet you there, or can you pick me up?” I have heard that question for nearly every lunch date I’ve ever booked. And I have a strong opinion about this: Pick up your client and drive him or her to and from the restaurant whenever possible. The reason? Intimacy. Having a quiet drive with your client in your car can be a great bonding opportunity. Remember that there are some risks (for example, in the case of an accident, you or your company could be held liable), but they are outweighed by the benefits.

One executive told me about a case that had recently been settled in Florida. Driving a client home after a business ...

Get The Art Of The Business Lunch now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.