Calgary author gives tips on leaving the nest with new book inspired by his daughters

As Ken Knight's daughters were preparing to head off to university, he wanted to give them some quick and dirty life tips to make the transition easier.

"It comes from my own 50 plus years of life and it comes from a lot of people that are smarterthan I am," Knight told The Homestretch on Monday.

So he sat down to record some pearls of wisdom and it turned into his new book, Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty.

"It's a trick to remember which way to turn a screw, or a tap or a jar lid. Left to loosen, right to get it tight. It's funny how many people don't know that," Knight said of the book's title.

"The whole book is just stuff like that. Tips for everyday life, things that might seem common sense but a lot of people maybe don't know them or don't want to go to Google to find them."

'Being the first'

Some of the tips are etiquette-related and some includeways of working more effectively with others.

"Being the first into the office, being the first to hand in your assignment, don't be the last," he said."If someone asks you to do something, why not be the first and not the last. You have to be in one of those positions. It feels good to be the first."

Some are more about owning your contribution to a larger entity.

"When you are in a band, you get a piece of music in front of you and you play your instrument, so leave the other people's parts alone," Knight said.

"You have one part to play in the world, so play your part and then the whole ensemble sounds great."

Handshakes are important

A good handshake, he says, can go a long way.

"A little squeeze, not too firm, don't crush the hand and don't be a limp fish either. If you are seated, always stand to shake someone's hand, even if they are seated."

Some of the advice is timely, given technological changes.

"Our phones are great tools, but when it replaces human contact, it's tough and it's changing the world," he said.

"Put them away whenever you can."

But sometimes the best advice, is to seek more advice.

"I'm not a car person either, my advice is to find yourself a really good mechanic," he said.

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With files from The Homestretch