You are sitting at the dinner table with ten people who each embody one of the following characteristics. I entreat you to think about who your dinner feast would include and why they are each chosen to be present.
Here is my list as it stands currently. I find that I carry these people with me daily as I work toward my own pursuits, whether or not they are available for conversation.
Gutsy and Fearless: Ann Richards - I woman to be reckoned with and from whom to learn
Resilient: Dean Karnazes - I had the pleasure of seeing this 'ultramarathon man' speak at REI...astounding
Inspirational: Jeremy T. - close personal friend who has the power of turning visions in to reality
Reality Check: Alice E. - close personal friend and someone who is never afraid to tell it like it is
Humor Antidote: Robin Williams - I can't think of anyone who is more naturally comical
Storyteller: Hemingway - not much needs to be said here
Mentor: Vicki Goff (my mom) - has lived her life in the role of a mentor, helping people selflessly
Fun Maker: Monty Goff (my dad) - anywhere he goes, fun, friendliness and love are sure to follow
Decisive: Elizabeth C. - former boss and someone truly blessed with the art of powerful decision making
Implementer: I'm still working on this elusive one
p.s.
When writing this entry I did some quick research about "being decisive." What floated to the top of the Google search engine, you ask? Being decisive: The Art of Manliness--a Website about reclaiming your manliness. Well now, is this a battle of the genes or something else? Is decisiveness really a characteristic attributed to underlying masculine tendencies? I think it can be better characterized as a result of confidence, experience and being slightly risk-averse.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Give Everyone a Fare Shot
Although I haven't yet had the pleasure of becoming deeply involved with this organization, I need to draw some attention to Fare Start. As time permits I can't wait to familiarize myself more with them firsthand. Fare Start is a non profit that provides culinary job training for the homeless and disadvantaged individuals. Not only does it give these people the chance to mix their own recipe for success (yes, a little cliche); the organization also brings a bright idea to the city of Seattle. It puts expert culinary resources at the fingertips of people who otherwise might not have such an opportunity. It provides meals for those in need. More importantly, it provides training and tools to get people back on their feet. AND, it is just a really cool business model -- albeit a not for profit one. I tip my hat and my fork. -Kg
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Frumpapotamus
Frumpapotamus -- A little known word that I feel characterizes a way of dress around here. When one feels they have so many layers on that they can hardly move, and yet they are still cold...they are a frumpapotamus. I have grown to know this word all too well. I am also in a perpetual state of chill. Brrrrr. Won't the cold ever leave?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Sesame Street Sells Wax to Kids
You heard me. The loved and renowned show watched universally sells wax to kids. Do I have a problem with that? Absolutely not. Let me tell you why...
My favorite and most memorable TV episode as a child was the Sesame Street episode that takes you into the Crayola factory (see link to YouTube video). To see the machines sorting all the colors one by one into boxes that mirror the rainbow of colors - well that was pure magic.
Crayola, as a brand, has forever since been imprinted on my brain and in my emotions. Every time I go to the store and walk down the craft isle I pick up a box, open it and sniff the colored wax. That's how you get customer loyalty for a wax product. You may think me insane. Perhaps I am, but tell me you haven't done the same.
The kicker is...I learned so much in that one episode; I learned about the manufacturing processes, about colors, about packaging and distribution. Thinking back, maybe this is where my love for marketing was born. The producers of this episode go down in my book of cretaing a work of pure genius. Also, do the people shown at work have any idea of the impact they had on so many childrens' lives? They should.
Marketing of this nature is neither offensive, or intrusive, and I have a pretty high barometer of trust. Maybe the format can be revisited. I miss "Trix Are For Kids" and "They're Grrrrreat" with Tony the Tiger boxtop baseballs. However I also value health and peace of mind for kids. Where is the line to be drawn?
My favorite and most memorable TV episode as a child was the Sesame Street episode that takes you into the Crayola factory (see link to YouTube video). To see the machines sorting all the colors one by one into boxes that mirror the rainbow of colors - well that was pure magic.
Crayola, as a brand, has forever since been imprinted on my brain and in my emotions. Every time I go to the store and walk down the craft isle I pick up a box, open it and sniff the colored wax. That's how you get customer loyalty for a wax product. You may think me insane. Perhaps I am, but tell me you haven't done the same.
The kicker is...I learned so much in that one episode; I learned about the manufacturing processes, about colors, about packaging and distribution. Thinking back, maybe this is where my love for marketing was born. The producers of this episode go down in my book of cretaing a work of pure genius. Also, do the people shown at work have any idea of the impact they had on so many childrens' lives? They should.
Marketing of this nature is neither offensive, or intrusive, and I have a pretty high barometer of trust. Maybe the format can be revisited. I miss "Trix Are For Kids" and "They're Grrrrreat" with Tony the Tiger boxtop baseballs. However I also value health and peace of mind for kids. Where is the line to be drawn?
Friday, July 16, 2010
Standard: Under Promise, Over Deliver.
Everyone in business knows this is supposed to be the name of the game. I have a prime example of one place that didn't deliver.
As a woman I become very excited about the prospect of going to the salon and "pampering" myself with what is typically an expensive haircut and sometimes some highlights -- keeping the mane in check. Instead of every two to three months as some do, I find myself waiting six at times because I have a hard time coming to terms with the extravagance of a $50 haircut and $150 color. Many people do.
So I make at appointment at a premier location for mane maintenance in Seattle. When I get there I find a bumping club-like atmosphere, complete with a DJ and barrista stand. All beauty consultants are dressed in sheik black and bopping around like models of their own hair genius. Upon changing into my robe a coffee order is taken. Nice. But then the coffee isn't delivered until well after my cut begins and I'm not made aware of it until the final stage of my appointment.
Misstep #2: I'm finally drinking my luke-warm beverage and the hair dresser decides to (without warning) point the hair dryer into my lap to blow all the little cut hair pieces to the ground. Given the direction of her sloppy aim all that happens is that the hair flies in my face and little micro bits get stuck to my lips and face, making me itchy. So she tries again. Same result. Now I'm pretty frustrated.
And finally: After I had made my appointment for a cut and color and gone through the process of discussing the color I wanted done to my hair (note that this in my mind confirmed the fact that we were going to be doing a color treatment) my newbie hair dresser finishes styling my hair and the whips off the smock noting that the appointment was completed. What?! So I ask..."Are we not doing color today?" She is stunned and bewildered because the person who scheduled the appointment has only set aside time for a haircut. I sit quietly and she comes back with, "It's too nice a day for you to sit inside anyways." Oh really? Were you aware that I was actually very excited about getting my hair updated after SIX months and that I rearranged a busy schedule to make this happen?!
The hair cut was average but nothing spectacular. I've had cuts that were WAY more stylish done in half the time and nearly half the cost.
All this and I endured a product lesson about each product she was putting into my hair (brand name of course) so she could up sell me at the end of the appointment. I'm sure this was based on a company policy of "added value" to the customer. Yes, I'm in marketing but no, I don't like being pitched when I'm relaxing.
I don't buy it. Literally. I'm so thankful to my amazing boyfriend who honored me with a GC to this place that I had so badly wanted to try but I feel awful that he spent his money on a place that apparently under delivers so badly.
Let's be fair though. Had they not promised a nice, hot coffee upon arrival, touted a world-class staff and had they let me sit back and enjoy the hour (supposed to me more) of pampering instead of assaulting me with product knowledge and making me thus aware that I was going to need to make an awkward refusal of expensive product at the end...then they would have delivered a relatively WOW package.
But they made the classic mistake in marketing of over promising and now I am deeply disappointed in my experience.
As a woman I become very excited about the prospect of going to the salon and "pampering" myself with what is typically an expensive haircut and sometimes some highlights -- keeping the mane in check. Instead of every two to three months as some do, I find myself waiting six at times because I have a hard time coming to terms with the extravagance of a $50 haircut and $150 color. Many people do.
So I make at appointment at a premier location for mane maintenance in Seattle. When I get there I find a bumping club-like atmosphere, complete with a DJ and barrista stand. All beauty consultants are dressed in sheik black and bopping around like models of their own hair genius. Upon changing into my robe a coffee order is taken. Nice. But then the coffee isn't delivered until well after my cut begins and I'm not made aware of it until the final stage of my appointment.
Misstep #2: I'm finally drinking my luke-warm beverage and the hair dresser decides to (without warning) point the hair dryer into my lap to blow all the little cut hair pieces to the ground. Given the direction of her sloppy aim all that happens is that the hair flies in my face and little micro bits get stuck to my lips and face, making me itchy. So she tries again. Same result. Now I'm pretty frustrated.
And finally: After I had made my appointment for a cut and color and gone through the process of discussing the color I wanted done to my hair (note that this in my mind confirmed the fact that we were going to be doing a color treatment) my newbie hair dresser finishes styling my hair and the whips off the smock noting that the appointment was completed. What?! So I ask..."Are we not doing color today?" She is stunned and bewildered because the person who scheduled the appointment has only set aside time for a haircut. I sit quietly and she comes back with, "It's too nice a day for you to sit inside anyways." Oh really? Were you aware that I was actually very excited about getting my hair updated after SIX months and that I rearranged a busy schedule to make this happen?!
The hair cut was average but nothing spectacular. I've had cuts that were WAY more stylish done in half the time and nearly half the cost.
All this and I endured a product lesson about each product she was putting into my hair (brand name of course) so she could up sell me at the end of the appointment. I'm sure this was based on a company policy of "added value" to the customer. Yes, I'm in marketing but no, I don't like being pitched when I'm relaxing.
I don't buy it. Literally. I'm so thankful to my amazing boyfriend who honored me with a GC to this place that I had so badly wanted to try but I feel awful that he spent his money on a place that apparently under delivers so badly.
Let's be fair though. Had they not promised a nice, hot coffee upon arrival, touted a world-class staff and had they let me sit back and enjoy the hour (supposed to me more) of pampering instead of assaulting me with product knowledge and making me thus aware that I was going to need to make an awkward refusal of expensive product at the end...then they would have delivered a relatively WOW package.
But they made the classic mistake in marketing of over promising and now I am deeply disappointed in my experience.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Write Way (Not that the other is wrong)
Many thanks to a Facebook post made by a friend the other day, which inspired the plan for this post.
Handwritten correspondence and thank you notes are priceless. It is an art that is quickly dying, only to be replaced by brief 140-character or less phrases of witicism that are published publicly for everyone to see. Handwritten notes are private, intimate windows into some person's thought process and are to be treated respectfully as such.
I learned years ago that my grandparents shared a trunk full of written correspondence that no one ever had the privilege of seeing. They wanted it to be kept private and I respect that, despite the burning curiosity to know what history those letters contained.
For someone who loves words as I do, it's a treat to read someone's handwriting and try to decipher their mood as they were drafting the correspondence. It's even more exciting to open an old box and drag out a piece of notebook paper written in bubble script -- a note passed in class 15-odd years earlier. I've kept many more pieces of written correspondence than I should have in my life time.
My hope for you all is that you have a box of equally precious words stashed away for reading on a rainy day. These slices of time, like a vivid scent, can transport you instantly to a moment you scarcely remember. Similarly, I hope this inspires you to take pen to paper on occasion instead of clicking what you have to say out on the keys. For the sake of he/she that wrote it: privacy is key.
Thank you for listening. Thank you for writing. I like what this blog had to say. http://blog.handwrittenresults.com/
Handwritten correspondence and thank you notes are priceless. It is an art that is quickly dying, only to be replaced by brief 140-character or less phrases of witicism that are published publicly for everyone to see. Handwritten notes are private, intimate windows into some person's thought process and are to be treated respectfully as such.
I learned years ago that my grandparents shared a trunk full of written correspondence that no one ever had the privilege of seeing. They wanted it to be kept private and I respect that, despite the burning curiosity to know what history those letters contained.
For someone who loves words as I do, it's a treat to read someone's handwriting and try to decipher their mood as they were drafting the correspondence. It's even more exciting to open an old box and drag out a piece of notebook paper written in bubble script -- a note passed in class 15-odd years earlier. I've kept many more pieces of written correspondence than I should have in my life time.
My hope for you all is that you have a box of equally precious words stashed away for reading on a rainy day. These slices of time, like a vivid scent, can transport you instantly to a moment you scarcely remember. Similarly, I hope this inspires you to take pen to paper on occasion instead of clicking what you have to say out on the keys. For the sake of he/she that wrote it: privacy is key.
Thank you for listening. Thank you for writing. I like what this blog had to say. http://blog.handwrittenresults.com/
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunless Seattle
Sunny optimism is failing here. It's June 20th, 50 degrees and rainy in Seattle. The news stations have resorted to dedicating precious air time to entire segments aside from the weather report on the gloomy summer weather. Over our last margarita in Mexico before flying home yesterday to return to this state of vitamin D deficient being Mike and I decided a move south was in order. Goose-bumpy legs in summer no longer!
We don't know how...or when...but it has been decided. Seattle can not be a forever home. Warmer options will be tabled. I will only miss the lush greenery and the near access to skiing in the winter.
We don't know how...or when...but it has been decided. Seattle can not be a forever home. Warmer options will be tabled. I will only miss the lush greenery and the near access to skiing in the winter.
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