Saturday, November 28, 2009
What I realized about grocery shopping
I realized that no matter how long I look, or how many I test, I still manage to pick the messed up shopping cart. You know - the ones with the squeeky wheels or one wheel that gets stuck and doesn't move. I wonder - are all the carts like this? Do I attract broken carts? Or is this a funny prank by all supermarkets? Do the employees have a blooper reel of innocent shoppers trying to maneuver carts that they watch on their breaks? Hmmm
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
What I realized AGAIN about Las Vegas...
I realized that Vegas is STILL a place where you should only experience once. I recently went for a second time on business, and got what i have now penned as the VU - the Vegas flu. Being locked up in a room in a rowdy hotel, sick as a dog, is most likely one of the worst things I've ever experienced. The maids probably thought that there was a dead body in the room for 3 days. I would've tried to catch an earlier flight, but I wanted to be respectful of the other passengers, by not coughing all over them. Low and behold, when i finally get on my flight home, the other passengers are coughing all over me! So much for that idea!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
what i realized about reality shows..
I'm not a big reality show watcher. I really am not a big fan because I don't think it's reality. Yes, I'm one of "them." However, I realized that somehow, I always find myself getting completely sucked into the reality show's final episodes! Why??!!!!
Monday, January 12, 2009
What I Realized About Clients...
I realized that as intimidating as some clients can be, they always love a good laugh....
Following is a note from my client after receiving our Xmas gift....
Dude is looking at me funny again.
So I get this package just prior to the holidays from the good folks at our PR agency. Ever notable for being creative with their Christmas gifts, this year was no exception. Eagerly, I tear open the package. Wrapped in about eight layers of various and sundry packaging materials was…………………………an MK bobble head.
Initially, I must say I was elated at the prospect of having my own bobble head. Whatever self esteem issues I might have had were immediately erased by the presence before me of the shiny new mini-me. I proudly placed mini-MK (MMK) on the table next to my desk. Through the afternoon, I was working on some of my communication for the upcoming Leadership Conference. While laying down some PowerPoint slides for my strategic plan communication, I began to have these feelings like someone was looking over my shoulder. These feelings persisted, so I began looking out of the corner of my eye at the little bugger while I was working. I swear I saw MMK shake his head back and forth as if saying “no” and “yes” on several occasions. It was like the miniscule dude was trying to tell me if I was going in the right direction or not. I don’t mind telling you that I immediately suspected an elaborate surveillance conspiracy involving our PR firm and my boss. I conducted a quick examination of the bobble head to look for embedded microphones, web cams and such. Although I didn’t see anything untoward, I elected to set up a quick meeting with my boss on some innocuous subject in order to survey his office for the presence of some sort of toggle stick on his desktop. While it was difficult to talk about paper napkins for 30-plus minutes to allow for adequate survey time, I did manage to get the job done. In the end, I didn’t find anything to further the notion of this conspiracy theory, although I continued to have suspicions.
As I continued the development of my conference content, I began to think about organizational communication and activation. Specifically, how important communication, focus, guidance, follow-up and reinforcement are to achieving the desired outcome. We have to influence the staff to make right decisions and take right actions continuously in order to deliver the results. Suddenly, the “validating bobble head” made a lot of sense to me. What if I could make a couple thousand MMK’s to be at every bar, host stand, service station, retail store and kitchen, nodding approval or disapproval at each impending action or inaction? Wow, enormous potential.
I know what you’re thinking, “He’s going to replace us with some sort of bobble head army.” No.
I do want you to think about the legacy of your organizational communication and activation, as it pertains to how your staff behaves when not under your constant direction. Are they aligned with the specific results that we are trying to achieve? Do they understand completely what is expected from them? Are they knowledgeable about what actions and behaviors will produce the right results. Are they motivated to choose right? Do they know if we are achieving the results? Are the management team consistent in their focus, communication and activity? Do we reinforce right behavior and take corrective action on wrong behavior on a consistent and ongoing basis?
The start of a new year is a great time to make an assessment of your internal communication and activation process. Take the next week to evaluate how well you execute manager meetings, how that communication translates into specifics of staff activation, how well that communication reaches the entirety of the staff, and the responsiveness of the management team in aligning behavior toward the achievement of the results.
While the idea of the “validating bobble head” may be a bit before its time, the principles that it presumes are not.
As for the conspiracy, maybe I got a bit off my rocker for a minute. I kinda feel bad that I slipped that micro GPS tracker into the bottle of wine I gave my boss for Christmas.
Looks like he’s in!
Following is a note from my client after receiving our Xmas gift....
Dude is looking at me funny again.
So I get this package just prior to the holidays from the good folks at our PR agency. Ever notable for being creative with their Christmas gifts, this year was no exception. Eagerly, I tear open the package. Wrapped in about eight layers of various and sundry packaging materials was…………………………an MK bobble head.
Initially, I must say I was elated at the prospect of having my own bobble head. Whatever self esteem issues I might have had were immediately erased by the presence before me of the shiny new mini-me. I proudly placed mini-MK (MMK) on the table next to my desk. Through the afternoon, I was working on some of my communication for the upcoming Leadership Conference. While laying down some PowerPoint slides for my strategic plan communication, I began to have these feelings like someone was looking over my shoulder. These feelings persisted, so I began looking out of the corner of my eye at the little bugger while I was working. I swear I saw MMK shake his head back and forth as if saying “no” and “yes” on several occasions. It was like the miniscule dude was trying to tell me if I was going in the right direction or not. I don’t mind telling you that I immediately suspected an elaborate surveillance conspiracy involving our PR firm and my boss. I conducted a quick examination of the bobble head to look for embedded microphones, web cams and such. Although I didn’t see anything untoward, I elected to set up a quick meeting with my boss on some innocuous subject in order to survey his office for the presence of some sort of toggle stick on his desktop. While it was difficult to talk about paper napkins for 30-plus minutes to allow for adequate survey time, I did manage to get the job done. In the end, I didn’t find anything to further the notion of this conspiracy theory, although I continued to have suspicions.
As I continued the development of my conference content, I began to think about organizational communication and activation. Specifically, how important communication, focus, guidance, follow-up and reinforcement are to achieving the desired outcome. We have to influence the staff to make right decisions and take right actions continuously in order to deliver the results. Suddenly, the “validating bobble head” made a lot of sense to me. What if I could make a couple thousand MMK’s to be at every bar, host stand, service station, retail store and kitchen, nodding approval or disapproval at each impending action or inaction? Wow, enormous potential.
I know what you’re thinking, “He’s going to replace us with some sort of bobble head army.” No.
I do want you to think about the legacy of your organizational communication and activation, as it pertains to how your staff behaves when not under your constant direction. Are they aligned with the specific results that we are trying to achieve? Do they understand completely what is expected from them? Are they knowledgeable about what actions and behaviors will produce the right results. Are they motivated to choose right? Do they know if we are achieving the results? Are the management team consistent in their focus, communication and activity? Do we reinforce right behavior and take corrective action on wrong behavior on a consistent and ongoing basis?
The start of a new year is a great time to make an assessment of your internal communication and activation process. Take the next week to evaluate how well you execute manager meetings, how that communication translates into specifics of staff activation, how well that communication reaches the entirety of the staff, and the responsiveness of the management team in aligning behavior toward the achievement of the results.
While the idea of the “validating bobble head” may be a bit before its time, the principles that it presumes are not.
As for the conspiracy, maybe I got a bit off my rocker for a minute. I kinda feel bad that I slipped that micro GPS tracker into the bottle of wine I gave my boss for Christmas.
Looks like he’s in!
Monday, December 22, 2008
What I Realized About Getting What You Want..
I realized that in order to get what you want in this world, you have to be strong, stern and firm. (All great adjectives for eachother, by the way.)
While I consider myself to be all of the above, I have a hard time taking it one step further and being really demanding when I am told no.
For example, I am exactly 508 miles away from being Continental Gold Elite Status for all of 2009, but I need to accrue these 508 miles before December 31st. No matter how hard I tried to convince Continental that they should upgrade my status out of good faith, when they said no, I could not bring myself to get nasty! And unfortunately, as I learned from going to Rutgers (famous for the "R-U Screw), you have to bitch to get what you want...
Sometimes I wish I was one of those women that could be mean to customer service people when necessary, but I can't! But then again, if I were to be, I would immediately be labeled as a bitch and I don't want that. What to do... What to do...
That being said -- If you or anyone you know has a hook up at Continental, let me know ASAP!!!!!
While I consider myself to be all of the above, I have a hard time taking it one step further and being really demanding when I am told no.
For example, I am exactly 508 miles away from being Continental Gold Elite Status for all of 2009, but I need to accrue these 508 miles before December 31st. No matter how hard I tried to convince Continental that they should upgrade my status out of good faith, when they said no, I could not bring myself to get nasty! And unfortunately, as I learned from going to Rutgers (famous for the "R-U Screw), you have to bitch to get what you want...
Sometimes I wish I was one of those women that could be mean to customer service people when necessary, but I can't! But then again, if I were to be, I would immediately be labeled as a bitch and I don't want that. What to do... What to do...
That being said -- If you or anyone you know has a hook up at Continental, let me know ASAP!!!!!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
What I Realized About Traffic...
I realized that even when I think I'm going to be on time for work, it NEVER happens. The second it starts drizzling, people forget how to drive, and I become the victim. Today, I was stuck in the bowels of the NJ Turnpike, smushed in between 100's of trucks.
Another thing I realized is that truck drivers are probably the most evil drivers on the face of the planet. They drive like they have Mini-Coopers. And Today, about 8 of those stupid oversized speed-racers flipped over and reeked havoc all over NJ.
Ahh.. good times...
Another thing I realized is that truck drivers are probably the most evil drivers on the face of the planet. They drive like they have Mini-Coopers. And Today, about 8 of those stupid oversized speed-racers flipped over and reeked havoc all over NJ.
Ahh.. good times...
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
What I Just Realized....
Another thing I just realized.... My job is definitely so much cooler than yours because my latest and greatest account is.....
PLAYBOY TV
YUP, that's right --- you're all jealous
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