There was this excellent little book that came out in 1993 called "Never Confuse a Memo with Reality...and Other Important Business Lessons Too Simple Not to Know."
One of its gems was (I'm paraphrasing here): "Be gracious. Offer your guests/clients coffee or tea when they arrive."
I know that having a ton of coffee meetings (at Starbucks or some such) can get expensive. Believe me, I've paid the bill for my fair share of informational interviews that went nowhere. But being a good host -- even out at a Starbuck's -- goes a long way. Know how important first impressions are? Your good graces, or lack thereof, are part of that.
I recall one potential vendor who brought me water at our first meeting, even though I hadn't asked. (I drink water like a dying man in the desert. It was most welcome.) I was impressed.
Contrast that with another vendor who pushed past me with, "I need to get my coffee, I'll be right back." The second part of that sentence ("...can I get you anything?") never showed up.
No surprise that the second vendor was sloppy, didn't care about my or my company's needs, and didn't get my business.
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