My sister Linda loves to travel. And, when visiting famous cities, she likes to pretend she lives there. Not one to remain cloistered in her hotel room, she likes to get out with the natives. She likes to visit the restaurants and shops that are off the tourist path.

Once in Santa Fe, where Robert Redford has a ranch, she looked at the man next to her before licking the cone she had just purchased in a popular ice cream shoppe. It was the famous actor. She smiled, decided not to ask for an autograph (she pretends she's a local, remember) and gracefully exited, using the ballerina stance she has long admired.

Half-way down the block, though, she realized she had been so unnerved in the presence of the famous actor that she had neglected to get change for a ten-dollar bill. She turned around and walked back to the shoppe, peeking in first, though, to make certain Mr. Redford was no longer in there. Apologetically, she approached the clerk and said, "I was just in her and bought a chocolate swirl and gave you a ten-dollar bill. But you never gave me change.

The teenager behind the counter smiled knowingly. "Yes, I did, ma'," he assured her. "You'll find it right in your handbag, along with the ice cream!"

It's easy to lose our cool when standing in front of or beside famous people or people whose positions are well above our own. We need to remember, however, that they are simply people. They don't deserve (and most would not expect) any more respect than any other human being deserves.

The next time you go for a job interview (or the next time you visit that ice cream shoppe in Santa Fe) remember these words by anthropologist Margaret Mead. Live by them. Treat everyone respectfully and know success: "I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings."

Dr. Marlene Caroselli, author of 53 business books (see Amazon.com) is an international keynote speaker and corporate trainer for Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and professional organizations. You can reach her at mccpd@frontiernet.net .