Do the employees really come first????

Employers wonder why turn over rate is so high at their place. The reason is that they do not pay their people what they are worth. Show your employees respect and they will show it to you. Show them that you know their worth and they will prove it day after day.

Richard Branson has the right idea. He is quoted with saying “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.”  This is 100% true, yet very few organizations actually practice this I can tell you that if I feel valued as an employee, I will go to the ends of the earth for my employer to be sure that customers are happy and the job is done. It’s when you feel devalued, abused, and taken advantage of as an employee that productivity starts to go down and other things begin to unravel within the organization. I can tell you that that is how I feel where I am. I was promised the moon and starts to come and work here. I left my previous employer because I felt completely devalued and not appreciated.

As an employer you get what you give. If you are paying a low salary or hourly wage, you will get that caliper of people. You pay an hourly wage or salary that is reasonable and liveable then you will get better quality. You get what you pay for. That goes for anything in life.

There was a place that I worked, we had an AMAZING team, we were paid fairly and treated with so much respect and care. The reason it all fell apart, our top dog General manager passed away. They brought in a new guy and he got rid of all the current employee, to bring in his own people…so our entire team lost their jobs. We all still keep in touch, see each other and reminisce about the team that we had. Our department manager was unlike anyone else I ever was. She cared, she listened, she respected and when things in our personal lives were down she found a way to make it better and the team got behind you. She lived the Richard Branson quote and we all always felt it.

Finding another place like that is like finding a needle in a haystack. It could be done, but it is nearly impossible. I always hope to find another team to be a part of, so far unsuccessful. I will not stop trying to find where I belong, it will happen. Finding a team such as I had is like finding a diamond in the rough. I was thinking I may have it where I am but upper management is making nearly impossible to want to stay here. What to do? Am I the only one who has been stuck in this conundrum? Please let me know in comments below. How do you feel where ou work? What do you look for in your employer?

A mini guide to the 4th decade of life.

As we get older, we hear people talk about the changes that happen when you hit 40. Usually they are the physical things like aches, pains, menopause, wrinkles, and so many other things. But do we talk about what happens mentally??? How our thoughts change and then one day we wake up and realize “HOLY CRAP, I am an adult. I pay bills and take care of my family. When the heck did this happen?” Here is a mini-guide for our 40’s…

1- Aging is inevitable. We ALL get older…no matter what. We can’t stop the clock. Why do we try so hard to LOOK younger. Do you remember when you were younger? Trying so hard to beautiful, sexy, trendy and all the time you took to do that? I have decided to go with the flow, whatever happens, happens. It is meant to be. Who I am as a person is still just as awesome, fun, funny, and whimsical. So OWN it, GIRL! Don’t try to hide it.

2- Style is subjective! To keep with the previous – who cares what you are wearing? Heck, I am happy to just have clothes on some days when my life is hectic. Matching socks?? What are those? Wear whatever makes you happy, feel good, and smile.

3- Don’t Sweat the Small stuff – EXACTLY this. Some battles just are not worth the time and energy. As we get older, our circle gets smaller, yet more valuable. Anything outside that circle is the small stuff. Difficult people are not worth your energy, just let things be. It helps…let things go, move forward, and always SMILE

4-There is nothing wrong with a night in. As a matter of fact, I have found that I truly enjoy staying home. Either watching TV,reading, cleaning, or just relaxing. Sometimes just inviting a couple of friends over is the perfect evening. No bars, clubs, or parties..just friends, laughter, and joy.

5-HEALTH! Take care of those aches and pains. If you feel like something is wrong, go to the doctor. Preventive action is always best.

6- It is okay to be YOU! Make sure that you love you! Look at yourself every day in the mirror and pick something about yourself that you like. You will find that your days start great and you feel good. Remember, each of those characteristics is what make you unique!

7-Dating younger is OK! Again, don’t let others opinions affect you. If you find yourself dating younger, remember that men do it all the time and it is okay. There is nothing wrong with being that Cougar and feeling great about it! GET IT GIRL!

8- Be Kind – tell someone they look good, hold the door open, or something else. You will find that being kind fills you with happiness as well. Who knows for that moment, you may have turned someone’s bad day into a good one. It cost NOTHING to be kind…it is very easy as well.

There really are so many things to say, but ultimately – enjoy your 40’s. Don’t let anyone dictate to you about how you live your life. Smile, Be happy and most of all HAVE FUN, BE SILLY, and go dance in the rain….

How to attend to Clients to portray friendliness

Personal interaction with each other is the foundation for ANY successful business. How we interact with each other is key no matter what industry you are in. We greet each other with a smile, put out our hands to say hello. That first interaction is important, for without the smile, the greeting can be received as unfriendly. This is not the key to portray friendliness but one of the TOP ways to do so.

There are many ways to portray a positive and friendly manner to people as an employee. Yet, in my experience the most effective ways are as follows:

1. Mentioned in the beginning SMILING, one of the most simple ways to start a positive interaction with a customer.

2. Eye Contact — looking them in they eye as you speak, and smile, lets them know that you are listening and are ready to aid in their needs.

3. Tone- a soft caring, “ A pleasure to help you today” goes even a longer way.

4.Empathy — Ask questions about their needs. Showing empathy in understanding how they feel and show that you are truly interested and care about what they need. Customer can feel that energy and will feel comfortable and relaxed.

5. Don’t only PORTRAY a friendly manner. Be compassionate and truly show a customer that you want them to walk out of your establishment happy and satisfied to become a returning customer. Be the person that you want to see when you go into a business for anything whether it be the grocery store, the doctor’s office, or electronic store etc. Be authentic don’t simply act the part!

These are some of the steps to a friendly and personable customer encounter. Customers and clients can feel and hear when someone is just “phoning it in” or truly wants them to be happy with the end result.

An example is in the auto buying industry. When a customer goes to a dealership, they are not going to be spending a few dollars. It’s tens of thousands of dollars they are going to spend. They are not going to spend it at a place where they feel like any another number or they feel like they are being bullied. Walking into a dealership, being greeted by a smiling, genuine, and optimistic person will automatically help the potential customers feel more at home. Offer a refreshment, ask how they are doing. If there is a returning customer talk about something you have in common with them to again put them at ease and let them know that you remember them. They will be impressed and feel at ease about choosing your place of business. This creates a relaxed and friendly environment for them and you.

Of course, facilitating a friendly, open, and informative environment for customers is one thing. The company should offer and facilitate a positive friendly environment for its employees. This starts with the creator of your business and upper management. The leaders of a company should exude the same positive energy, excitement, and team spirit that they want their employees to show. The positivity and excitement should start at the top and flow through the entire company down. When employees feel the energy and care, they are more likely to pay it forward to your customers as well.

What can be put in motion from the upper management? Always let your team know they can come to you for questions without being judged. Follow through with it as well. Listen when they speak or express a concern. Discuss what is being said to you in a way that lets them know you care and want them to be part of the team. Create team building exercises outside of work — something fun like mini-golf, or bowling. These events help create an environment that people want to be in and feel comfortable belonging to. When you are in your facility, greet your customers openly and warmly. It shows your team that you care.

Ultimately, facilitating a friendly environment for customers starts with employees. Providing a positive, open, and caring work environment will result in the employees passing that same energy to customers.

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Life in the Cruising lane

In your 20’s – typically, you are dating, trying to find where you fit and what you want to do with life. We live life in the fast lane. We date person after person. Experiment with who knows what. It’s trial and error. And it goes FAST. We drive in life’s fast lane. BUT then somehow, if we are lucky, find the person that we decide to spend the rest of our life with. How do we decide? We just look one day and decide “you’re my person”, “I want you for life”.

Is it their sense of humor? Is it how they look? Is it their love for all things Garfield? or all things Unicorn? I can tell you, my husband, married me despite the fact that I love all things Unicorn….sometimes I can go a little over board. He just lets me be me and I am so appreciative of that. So, think about the reasons that you chose your Person. Share them in the comments below..this day in age with all the negativity, I want to see GOOD things, HAPPY things..share why you LOVE your PERSON. (See, weird Unicorn girl below….)

This is what I call living life in the Cruising lane. We cruise through life with one who makes us laugh, cry, angry, all the roller coaster of emotions and we still CHOOSE to stay. There is something about that person that you do not want to live without. You want to live life with them. You want to cruise, maybe even literally, on those road trips where you argue, you have to pee and you person wants to continue driving…you are then yelling at each other…”PULL OVER, I have to pee” and your person is hitting as many bumps as they can laughing (it has happened….you know it). Then later laughing at the entire ordeal.

Cruising in life with your person. The funny part of marriage is the continuous question of “What do you want for dinner?” A question we all have asked a MULTITUDE of times….what is the answer we usually get OR give? “Doesn’t matter” or “I don’t know” Then when one decides and the other says “I’m not really in the mood for that”…then an argument ensues and laughter later…because WHY? They are your person. The one you chose to eat your meals with for life!!! LOL…we laugh, we argue, we apologize, we make up…we sleep we do it again. Within all of this we have adventures, trips, jobs, bills…and all of life’s ups and downs.

Honestly, have you ever stopped and wondered why it happens, how we miraculously meet this one person in the BILLIONS of people on this Earth, that we want to share our life with. I have spent a LOT of time pondering this and I have NO explanation….other than you just KNOW. When my husband flew down from Connecticut for our first “date”..it was on a whim and a complete surprise to me, I had no idea that before he left, I would never want him to leave. I was not prepared for a relationship..yet 6 months after he flew down to Florida, we were married. I haven’t looked back. We have had that roller coaster..many ups, some downs..and I look forward to riding the Cruising lane with him until we get to the Slow lane (life after 65)..and then I will slow down with him, should we choose to slow down.

I repeat – Please share your happy stories in the comments section below..spread love, spread positive waves…and enjoy your life no matter what lane you are in.

Loving children as a Step-Parent

When I started dating my husband and I found out he had 2 daughters, I had a slight panic attack. I didn’t have any children of my own. Would they love me? At the very least would they even tolerate me? I want to explain, why Step parent love is different from biological parent. It is not better or worse, it is different. I am going to try to explain it.

When I first married my husband, the girls had more than 10 years of life behind them. I was not there for their first steps, or first day of school. I was not there the day you were born, I didn’t get to hug their dad and admire the beautiful children that he had. I wasn’t there to tuck them in at night, I didn’t show up until they were young ladies. The 2 of them weren’t raised to tell me that they loved me, heck, who was I even really? I am just their dad’s wife, their step-mother. We all know what thoughts often come when the term “step” comes before parent.

For this reason the love we have for each other is different. When we first met, I was scared out of my mind. I loved their father so much. I was concerned if they would accept me in any way. It was scary for me, as I am sure it was for them the day we met. I had flown from Florida to Connecticut to see him and them. Both girls were polite, yet hesitant, when we met. They were polite to me, yet I wondered, truly what was on their minds, their true thoughts about me. I was a teenage girl once and both of my parents remarried…so I remember me as a young lady. My mom married a wonderful man who I call Dad to this day. My biological father married a woman who rivals all the Evil step-mothers in every Disney movie.

A short time passed and I married my husband, now I had daughters. Daughters that were born in my heart but not of my body. I choose to love them as my own. In my wedding vows I promised to love them as well. I wrote promises and vows specifically to them so that they knew that in marrying their father, I also accept them as my daughters with all of my heart and soul.

Without these girls, who are now women, grown up and out of college, my husband wouldn’t be the man I love and married. Without them, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today. They have helped to teach me how to love better, patience, and acceptance over the years. I have come to love them more than I ever thought possible. They are my daughters, they have my heart. I will do whatever I can for them to help guide them through life, when they ask for help. I will dust them off when they fall and help them back up. The love of a step-parent is different because we CHOOSE to love these children, regardless of a biological bond. My life is better with them in it. My heart is full because of them. I have my husband to thank for that. I love him with all my heart, and I love them as if they were biologically mine.

In summary, my love for my stepdaughters may be different, but it is no less of a love. I may never be their mother, but I will always be their Stepmother. In my experience, that’s a difficult, yet fulfilling role to fill. I will continue to watch them grow, thrive, cheer you on, and be here for you anytime you need to talk. These girls are special, they are beautiful, and they are mine… I would choose them every time… I wouldn’t change a thing!

Be the Catalyst of your own life

Today, I had an epiphany. My job really is boring. It’s not bad. It helps pay the bills. I just want more. I want to do more. I want to feel alive. Am I sure of what direction I want to go in to feel something new, to feel like I contribute something that matters into this world? Nope, I am not sure. What I do know is that the only person who can kick this butt into high gear is me. I need to be the catalyst that lights my own fire. No one can do it for me.

I am positive that I am not the only one in this world to feel that way. How many of you out there reading this feel that way? I know that I want to facilitate change, kindness, love, and care into the world. So, let me start with this, whoever is reading this, you matter! You can do what you want in this world. You CAN DO IT! Whatever it is. Whatever it is that you have been thinking about..you can do it. Will it be easy? The answer is probably not. Nothing worth having is ever EASY. There is a difference between EASY and SIMPLE.

It is easy to stay safe, in this life you created with your job that you go to everyday. It may pay the bills..but does it make your heart happy? Does it make you smile? It is very easy to stay in the same routine and be in that comfortable place. It is a LOT harder to take a deep look within yourself, face your dreams and desires and actually take that step to make it happen.

I suffer from that thing that holds most of us back from being our own catalyst. What is that thing? That thing is FEAR. Usually, it is a fear of failure. What we should be afraid of is fear of NEVER trying. Fear of letting ourselves down because we DON’T try. If we fall or fail – get up dust off and try again or go in a different direction, but don’t give up. WE wouldn’t have electricity, computers, airplanes, or heck even the simple wheel – if those before us didn’t take that shot, well MANY shots. I am sure the caveman who figured out the wheel didn’t get it right on the first try. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Alexander Graham Bell and so many others did SOMETHING…they didn’t get it right the first time. They also did NOT let fear or failure hold them back. They just tried until they had succeeded at their goal.

Today I am going to be the catalyst that will propel me forward. What will you do? Sometimes you have to look deep within yourself, take a deep breath and really ask yourself if you would rather make a change now, or wonder all those years later “what could have been”. Let’s not wonder, let’s make it happen- whatever IT is for you! Let me know in comments below….