It's the beginning of October and the beginning of my fourth week with Talbots. Even though my dogs (feet) are barking and howling some days, I am having fun.
Most of us will not remember this early television show with Goucho Marx. It had something to do with a "secret" word. After the contestant chatted with Groucho, the guest would need to guess a secret word. Of course, Groucho would look into the camera, raise his bushy eyebrows, cigar in mouth and say, "What's the secret word"? I digest (even more) for a moment. It's a trivia moment.
Remember this was early television when there were censors. Here's the true story of how Groucho was banned from his show and no longer on television. While chatting with a couple (contestants), the couple mentioned that they had 9 children. Groucho, of course, looks at the camera ready for the punchline and says, "Name, I like my cigar too, but I take it out once in awhile."
Thank you for indulging me. I love that story. Back to my short story. Last week, I learned we have a weekly word. Of course, my imagination runs wild and I call it a secret word. Last week, the word was "glamorous." We are to try and use the word at least once during a conversation with a client/customer. This week the word is "style." For me, a person who already speaks in superlatives, this great fun and comes natural.
Upon further reflection, the secret word should always be sincere. The point of the weekly secret word is to focus on the customer and be positive.
So what is your secret word this week?
Monday, October 4, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Heaven -
/In the past, I have been part of many discussions about heaven. What's it like? Where is heaven? Does time stand still in heaven? Does time speed ahead? Is it an alternative universe?
Let's face it. It must be darn good. No one comes back to share its secrets. They are all too busy enjoying heaven to share. For this blog, I am going to presume that heaven is something different to each and every one of us. Some people believe it's a place to be reunited with loved ones. (I pass on that notion.) Case in point, my Aunt Marie. She is buried in between both of her two husbands. Where does she hang in heaven? Maybe she found a third husband in heaven. I don't know. She has not come back to tell me.
This past month I took a part-time job with one of my favorite stores, Talbots. For the fall line, we (Talbots) is featuring jackets. But not just any jacket. There are three main categories of jackets. Each line is named after a fashion icon: Grace, Jackie and Kate. One of my duties is showcase the jackets. What better way to showcase the jackets than to wear them. So, when I am on the floor, I change jackets every hour or two. To date, I have worn every jacket item in the fall collection. Some days, I add a piece of jewelry or scarf to accessorize the outfit. Now in my book, that is a piece of heaven.
My personal choice of jacket is Grace......MOM
Let's face it. It must be darn good. No one comes back to share its secrets. They are all too busy enjoying heaven to share. For this blog, I am going to presume that heaven is something different to each and every one of us. Some people believe it's a place to be reunited with loved ones. (I pass on that notion.) Case in point, my Aunt Marie. She is buried in between both of her two husbands. Where does she hang in heaven? Maybe she found a third husband in heaven. I don't know. She has not come back to tell me.
This past month I took a part-time job with one of my favorite stores, Talbots. For the fall line, we (Talbots) is featuring jackets. But not just any jacket. There are three main categories of jackets. Each line is named after a fashion icon: Grace, Jackie and Kate. One of my duties is showcase the jackets. What better way to showcase the jackets than to wear them. So, when I am on the floor, I change jackets every hour or two. To date, I have worn every jacket item in the fall collection. Some days, I add a piece of jewelry or scarf to accessorize the outfit. Now in my book, that is a piece of heaven.
My personal choice of jacket is Grace......MOM
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sounds of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel)
Personally, I would rather fixate on happy and cheerful news. But the "sounds of silence" of this (d)recession just need to be spoken.
The latest sword of the Recession hit me and a few of friends quite deeply. Last Sunday evening, my friend, Sunshine, texted me in horror. Our beloved Talbots was closed! There were no signs of there ever being life at the store where I spent a decent size fortune was gone from our lives. "Who will dress me"? was one of my first questions. "Where will I shop"? was the next question.
Then, I personally took the blame. I'm sorry to the Talbot gods. In my current circumstances, I just could not buy enough beautiful clothing to sustain the store. My friend, Sunshine, admitted since her lifestyle had changed, she was not shopping as much at our store.
When I say, my store, I mean it. The tastefully dressed women at Talbots were like family. Candy and Sue would greet me at the door and drop everything to focus on me. Where do you get that type of service from a retailer? Honestly, tell me. I need to know.
After a day or two, we realized that the larger Talbot's stores are still open for business. What relief!
Over the 18 months, we have heard about General Motors, AIG (still paying bonuses), and other huge corporations going bankrupt and whining for money. How many trillions of small businesses and families have gone bankrupt in silence?
MOM - with plenty of clothes for now.
The latest sword of the Recession hit me and a few of friends quite deeply. Last Sunday evening, my friend, Sunshine, texted me in horror. Our beloved Talbots was closed! There were no signs of there ever being life at the store where I spent a decent size fortune was gone from our lives. "Who will dress me"? was one of my first questions. "Where will I shop"? was the next question.
Then, I personally took the blame. I'm sorry to the Talbot gods. In my current circumstances, I just could not buy enough beautiful clothing to sustain the store. My friend, Sunshine, admitted since her lifestyle had changed, she was not shopping as much at our store.
When I say, my store, I mean it. The tastefully dressed women at Talbots were like family. Candy and Sue would greet me at the door and drop everything to focus on me. Where do you get that type of service from a retailer? Honestly, tell me. I need to know.
After a day or two, we realized that the larger Talbot's stores are still open for business. What relief!
Over the 18 months, we have heard about General Motors, AIG (still paying bonuses), and other huge corporations going bankrupt and whining for money. How many trillions of small businesses and families have gone bankrupt in silence?
MOM - with plenty of clothes for now.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sweet Dreams (Eurythymics)
Calling all Baby Boomers!
Perhaps this crazy economic time has been a recession for the generations of X and Y. Yes, things are tight. The job market is thin. But in conversations of with members of generations X and Y, they feel there is time to recoop from this economic plunge.
To many of my friends and acquaintances who happen to be baby boomers, this recession disguised a Depression. There I said it. The D word.
Not all, but many baby boomers have lost/spent their life savings and/or retirement money just to survive the last 18 months. Many have lost their homes to foreclosure. How many have lost jobs? Within that number of jobless rates, how many have had to reinvent themselves? How many are working at a fraction of their pre-depression compensation? Where are the opportunities for the baby boomers?
After a few heartfelt conversations, many of us have felt we have gone full-circle in our lives. We are starting from scratch. We are picking up shattered pieces of dreams, hopes, plans, and our lives. This is way too depressing for me.
Let’s focus on the other D word. DREAMS! However you want to name them: new dreams, refocused dreams, minimized dreams, etc. Let’s continue to DREAM. Without dreams, there is no hope. Without hope, there is not success or future.
Perhaps this crazy economic time has been a recession for the generations of X and Y. Yes, things are tight. The job market is thin. But in conversations of with members of generations X and Y, they feel there is time to recoop from this economic plunge.
To many of my friends and acquaintances who happen to be baby boomers, this recession disguised a Depression. There I said it. The D word.
Not all, but many baby boomers have lost/spent their life savings and/or retirement money just to survive the last 18 months. Many have lost their homes to foreclosure. How many have lost jobs? Within that number of jobless rates, how many have had to reinvent themselves? How many are working at a fraction of their pre-depression compensation? Where are the opportunities for the baby boomers?
After a few heartfelt conversations, many of us have felt we have gone full-circle in our lives. We are starting from scratch. We are picking up shattered pieces of dreams, hopes, plans, and our lives. This is way too depressing for me.
Let’s focus on the other D word. DREAMS! However you want to name them: new dreams, refocused dreams, minimized dreams, etc. Let’s continue to DREAM. Without dreams, there is no hope. Without hope, there is not success or future.
Trifecta plus One
Through my cursory perusal of the dictionary, I did not find a word for four wins in a row. In some instances, trifecta is used interchangeable with “Hat Trick.” So for this blog today, we will use trifecta plus one.
Last year about this time, we had a blog entitled “Holiday” (Madonna). So you may remember, I love and celebrate every holiday, including Groundhog Day. Celebrating holidays makes life special, in the fabulous sense.
Right now, we are in the third holiday of a trifecta plus one extravaganza. Yesterday, Sunday, February 14 was a double bonus. It was Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year. Both of these great days are celebrated with the color red. Did you wear your red yesterday? This is the year of the tiger.
2010 is the year of Tiger. Some people say 2010 is a Golden Tiger, White Tiger or Metal Tiger year.
Today is President’s Day. If you have the day free from work or school, please celebrate the day with a “President’s Day Sale,” cherry pie or waving the flag.
Tomorrow, Tuesday is FAT Tuesday or Mardi Gras. What a way to end a trifecta plus one in holidays. Please at least wear your mardi gras beads. Coco has a set of beads to wear tomorrow. Personally, I have red beads to wear. Eat whatever you what and do act crazy.
Celebrate and enjoy the holidays - MOM
Last year about this time, we had a blog entitled “Holiday” (Madonna). So you may remember, I love and celebrate every holiday, including Groundhog Day. Celebrating holidays makes life special, in the fabulous sense.
Right now, we are in the third holiday of a trifecta plus one extravaganza. Yesterday, Sunday, February 14 was a double bonus. It was Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year. Both of these great days are celebrated with the color red. Did you wear your red yesterday? This is the year of the tiger.
2010 is the year of Tiger. Some people say 2010 is a Golden Tiger, White Tiger or Metal Tiger year.
Today is President’s Day. If you have the day free from work or school, please celebrate the day with a “President’s Day Sale,” cherry pie or waving the flag.
Tomorrow, Tuesday is FAT Tuesday or Mardi Gras. What a way to end a trifecta plus one in holidays. Please at least wear your mardi gras beads. Coco has a set of beads to wear tomorrow. Personally, I have red beads to wear. Eat whatever you what and do act crazy.
Celebrate and enjoy the holidays - MOM
Saturday, February 6, 2010
THINK! (Aretha Frankin)
THINK!
One of the common catch phrases is "Think outside the box."
Another phrase is "Not everything is black or white. Think in shades of gray." Personally, if I thought in shades of gray, I would be horribly depressed. Gray is an awfully dreary color. Yes, I understand the meaning of the saying.
Here's my favorite, "See the big picture. Think big."
No wonder people keep reinterating these phrases. As a society, we are not taught to think beyond the lines.
Case in point. When our children start coloring we are excited. They have learned a new skill. But how often as a parent or adult, does that perfectly bright child hear, "it's beautiful, but you colored outside the lines." But maybe, just maybe, the child views the picture as big. Isn't that what we want This child is thinking outside the lines of confinement.
Lately, Monkey and I have been playing this game. We watch people and try to guess if the colored inside the lines. We play this game because we are very proud of the fact that I encouraged my girls to color outside the lines. My reasoning was to raise creative and open thinkers. While it was not easy raising my free thinkers, it has been quite rewarding. Both Monkey and Neptune color outside the lines and see the big picture. Their viewpoints are so interesting and different.
So again, I am encouraging Coco to color outside the lines so she can THINK!
From outside the box - MOM
One of the common catch phrases is "Think outside the box."
Another phrase is "Not everything is black or white. Think in shades of gray." Personally, if I thought in shades of gray, I would be horribly depressed. Gray is an awfully dreary color. Yes, I understand the meaning of the saying.
Here's my favorite, "See the big picture. Think big."
No wonder people keep reinterating these phrases. As a society, we are not taught to think beyond the lines.
Case in point. When our children start coloring we are excited. They have learned a new skill. But how often as a parent or adult, does that perfectly bright child hear, "it's beautiful, but you colored outside the lines." But maybe, just maybe, the child views the picture as big. Isn't that what we want This child is thinking outside the lines of confinement.
Lately, Monkey and I have been playing this game. We watch people and try to guess if the colored inside the lines. We play this game because we are very proud of the fact that I encouraged my girls to color outside the lines. My reasoning was to raise creative and open thinkers. While it was not easy raising my free thinkers, it has been quite rewarding. Both Monkey and Neptune color outside the lines and see the big picture. Their viewpoints are so interesting and different.
So again, I am encouraging Coco to color outside the lines so she can THINK!
From outside the box - MOM
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Just one word - "Plastics" - (The Graduate)
Do you realize that classic movie was made in 1967? That’s 43 years ago.
Back in 1976, I was employed by the number 2 banking association. This banking association was more of an educational resource to the industry than the number 1 banking association. While pursuing through educational materials, I came across an article entitled, “Cashless Society.” Honestly when reading this article, I could not even imagine something as strange as a cashless society. How would we pay for things?
The zips – 00 – Combine the two thoughts – Plastic and cashless society – What do we have? Credit Cards, ATM cards, debit cards, reward cards, FSA (Flexible Spending Account) cards, insurance cards, I-pass cards and devices. The list is far longer. Who could have imagined? I wonder if those geniuses thought of Identify theft?
Plastics – and not a Barbie Doll - MOM
Back in 1976, I was employed by the number 2 banking association. This banking association was more of an educational resource to the industry than the number 1 banking association. While pursuing through educational materials, I came across an article entitled, “Cashless Society.” Honestly when reading this article, I could not even imagine something as strange as a cashless society. How would we pay for things?
The zips – 00 – Combine the two thoughts – Plastic and cashless society – What do we have? Credit Cards, ATM cards, debit cards, reward cards, FSA (Flexible Spending Account) cards, insurance cards, I-pass cards and devices. The list is far longer. Who could have imagined? I wonder if those geniuses thought of Identify theft?
Plastics – and not a Barbie Doll - MOM
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