A Well Kept Secret in the 'Hood

This is a garden near my neighborhood.

I particularly enjoy it, because it isn't typical to other gardens in my neighborhood or even my city.

It's big into handmade structural pieces and recycled items.

It's not large but still has winding paths made from grass or rocks or shells or handmade paving stones.

The best compliment it could have ever received, was my 9 yr old moody daughter saying "I could stay in here all day."


It's a lovely reminder to do things different, or at the very least, find your own voice and do them YOUR WAY.

Look at the Big Guys Acting Like Little Guys!

I love this.  Thank you to the gardening supplier of my neighborhood Home Depot for adding QR codes to their plant tags!  


This is typical of the smaller braver businesses that are cutting edge and not stuck in some fuddy duddy corporate culture from 30 years ago. 


Bravo!

AWK! It's Not That Hard!

I adore the small details of great customer service and a great sale.  Like saying "My pleasure" as opposed to "No problem".  I particularly like good eye contact during a transaction or from any one on one time with an employee or representative. Oh and a great listener!  Don't you?   


I was reminded recently, to use a few of my Groupon coupons, by Groupon (thank you the email) and got on the horn to make arrangements.  One of the businesses, who willing opted their company in for a Groupon deal left me with my jaw dropped in stunned silence.


Lame O biz rep, "Good morning, how can I help you?"
Me, "Hi!  I was reminded by Groupon that the coupon I got with you all is about to expire.  I'd like to set that appointment up before it's too late."
Lame O biz rep, as she put the phone down and possibly talking to another co-worker, "Oh gawd... another f_ cking Groupon!".  She turned the phone over to a scheduler.


Really?  REALLY? 


I tried to shake off the unwelcome response from the Groupon business and headed to lunch with a client.  We met up at Johnny's Tavern in the Power & Light District in KC, MO and got Mary, as our server. She was attentive, chipper, looked my lunch date and I in the eyes, she seemed happy to be there and happy to serve us.  In the end, she wrote a few things on my To Go box to help me out... "Johnny's" and the date (very helpful info, especially since most to go boxes look alike) and a short note thanking us for coming in and to come back soon. Whew!  A biz that does care and showed me they do.


It took her less than 10 seconds for her to do what she did, but the thoughtfulness has had me talking about it for days.  See how easy that was?  It's not that hard to make people happy.


What have you done lately for your clients or your family to show them in a simple way you care?  It was a great reminder for me.  The lunch sack napkin notes to my kids are in full swing.


Here's Mary...  she was showing us the new low cal drink menu.  Johnny's must be thrilled with her. We were.  (picture taken while checking in on Foursquare)

Sparks are Good!

I have a new and improved logo.  Hopefully you get it, because if I have to explain it, well... that's a fail.

You know Where To Find Me...

I find the more I'm online in my social networks, the less my phone rings...


and the less email I receive...   


Communication evolution...  go where the people are.

Creepy or Cool?

I was driving home from Easter dinner last night and saw this in a nearby neighborhood... 

I dropped the family off, drove back and took a picture.   

I love that someone nearby took the time and had the interest enough to dress these two up for the holiday.  The attention to pretty details is what made me smile.

Yes, yes, I realize this might rub some people the wrong way.  My grandma used to put knit caps on her statues of children. As a child, I loved it. As an adult, I still do. Although, I do cross  the line at raincoats on duck statues.  I have hesitated dressing up my own statues in my yard.  I have however, put witches hats on the heads of my statues INSIDE my house at Halloween.  Was this something old people with nothing but time on their hands did?  Would I look crazy old if I did this?  I realize after seeing these two, there really are no rules as to how you decorate them and dagnabit, they bring a smile to my face every time.  

I should have made bunny ears.  My grade school age children would have loved it too.  So would my dogs.  They'd rip them off and shred the ears in 10 seconds flat.  

I drove further through the 'hood and promptly ran into this one.

I smiled wider knowing this person made multiple efforts to reach even more people with her visions of Bunniness.

Yes the gnomey looking guy is creepy, buck teeth and all, but somehow, the ears make him more approachable.  Is this an uber cute idea or does it creep you out?  

“Doing your best in this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” - Oprah Winfrey

Amp up your knowledge base about what you do or what you love to do.  I'm always looking for what's next in social media and branding online.  It's changing like a revolving door and it appears unable to slow down.  It's also what makes it incredibly exciting and interesting!


Whether it's finding out more about your industry/interests or simply reaching out to meet more people within it, commit to being the best you can be.  You'll find more luck flows your way.  


Luck: When preparation meets opportunity




Thanks Diva.Com for the Oprah quote reminder

You Should See My Hair Today!

Perk #63 of working from home:  Bad hair days are no big deal.  In fact, they are a great source of amusement.

Nothing a bandana can't fix.

PJ's and a Coat

This morning at 7:45AM, in my pajamas, I threw on my coat and took my children to school.

I just brought my kids home from school, and it hit me I have spent the entire in between time in my pajamas WITH my coat on, in my home office working. Online.  

The pull of what I do... social networking and social media...  AWK!  I love it!  Hypnotizing.

Is this a perk or con of working from home?  Perk.  Most employers wouldn't appreciate my wardrobe today.

My First Time...

I've been thinking about my "first time" lately.  I was only 13.  Here's how it went:
  
Teenagers today share one major similarity of when I was a teen... talking on the phone.  I was just telling my grade school aged children about how I used to be able to call (816) 444-1212 to hear the local time and temperature. (Thanks United MO Bank!)  

As much as I was a weather fanatic, (growing up in Kansas, you become one) the best part of that phone number was... it was a PARTY LINE!  You could hear the other callers talking and laughing and connecting with others. Sometimes it was really busy, like right after school and in the evening.  Despite the onslaught of chatter, you'd hear kids shouting out their telephone numbers in hopes someone hears them and calls them back directly!   You had to talk fast and cut right to the meat of your message (like Twitter) because sometimes time (space) was limited.   Other times, you could just hang out for hours chatting it up with now new and current friends. (like Facebook)


*gasp* What were our parents thinking letting us shout out our phone numbers to strangers!?   Ha!


Nonetheless, it was fun.  Really fun!  I remember being in 7th grade and yelling "My friends and I will be at the 2 o'clock session at Coachlight Skating today!  Be there!". 5 People heard my invitation and showed up that afternoon at Coachlight Skating Rink.  Strangers... but it didn't feel that way. We met up for many more afternoons over the next year and our circle of friends grew with us.   All 5 who heard that invitation on that day, I can contact today, for we became quick friends. 
KaPOW! That was officially my first meet up.  
It was also my first experience with successful social networking.  
I think even then, I realized the value of what was happening. 

 When did your FIRST social networking experience happen?