One Thing: A Trip to the Library

So, the One Thing thing lasted about well, two days. At least on the blog. I'd like to believe that I've done One Thing daily - even on those days when I haven't been up for doing anything at all.

I paid a visit to my local library - Anythink - formerly known as the Rangeview Library District. It's an amazing place - open, welcoming and you don't have to be silent. Also, they use a more intuitive catalog system - foregoing the Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal systems. This is a little odd to me - they even sort books by title - not author under each category, which took a little adjustment on my end.

I've been visiting weekly since before the holidays, and today I actually took the time to take home a few books - a pair on sock knitting and three business books. I figure I have time on my hands, so I had better take advantage of it!

One Little Work Thing

Image via Wikipedia

Today's one thing was to tackle my desk at work. I've been doing it bit by bit for the last two weeks or so, but I have a top left drawer that was stacked with about seven random files of STUFF.

I processed some donations from this week (good thing), sent some paperwork that my national office has been clamoring for (another good thing) and got rid of a lot excess paperwork. Gotta love the shredder.

Now to tackle some MarComm stuff like sponsorship and restaurant recruitment packages. The tasks were good to handle, but now it's back to strategy!

Tonight, I go back to that etsy thing - again. I will get a store set up!

One Thing Starts Today

OK - so I totally flaked out on the "One Thing" concept over Thanksgiving. I figured I'd wait till the first of the month to get inspired.

Today's one thing isn't anything exciting at all. it's actually reactive a bit more than proactive. I ended up getting rejected for something I really wanted today. My one thing was to not sulk (too much), and get out of the office for a walk in the snow and wind. It was slightly refreshing. I have a feeling the part about not letting myself get down about my situation will be a recurring theme, until the right thing comes along.

Tonight, I'll actually sign up for an etsy seller account for Sock Monkey Creations and perhaps knit a scarf for the store!

Also, I posted this late because I didn't get online last night, and Blogger doesn't offer scheduled postings, as far as I know.

A Little Inspiration

Image via Wikipedia

A high school friend posted this on Facebook, and I felt I needed to pass it along.

Do not become subservient. Do not dwell on every tiny setback in the course of pursuing your chosen path. To do so would be foolish. Victory or defeat is determined by our entire lives. Moreover, our final years are the most crucial. What is enviable about the pretentious rich? What is great about conceited celebrities? What is admirable about political leaders who gained their positions of power by treating others with contempt? Dig right where you stand, for there lies a rich wellspring! - Daisaku Ikeda

One Thing a Day

I came across a blog yesterday, My Thing A Day, and I loved it. A simple concept - do one thing a day that makes a big difference in your life. I'm not so sure about the "big" thing - but I do like the thought of one thing a day that's meaningful to ME.  It could be as simple as applying for one job, or one I really need to do - mail a baby gift to the 5 month old twins I've known about for a year now.

And, it will make me blog. Or it should.

So I think I'll add a page to this blog and do my "one thing." Even if it's boring to my one reader, it should mean something to me!

Being a Jerk vs Being Direct

The Daily Beast posted the classic story on the perception of women in the workplace when they are assertive, direct and less apologetic. The results - women who cut out the niceties such as Please, Thanks and I'm Sorry often get more respect in the workplace -to a point. Push that assertiveness to the point of being disagreeable, and it will come back to bite women. But not men.

I see why being assertive works. Completely. It makes total sense. If it's my job to delegate something, and your job to do it, I really don't need to say please and thank you, nor should I be apologetic for tasking you. That's doing my job, not being mean. And yet, I still nearly always sign my emails with a Thank You, and look for a "Please" from my manager and colleagues when they would like me to do something. I rarely get this from my manager (nor a thank you), and I find it incredibly aggravating.

I guess I am a sucker for being polite. When a greeter in a store opens the door, or wishes me a good morning, I always return the salutation, or look them in the eye and say thank you. It's not pandering, or being meek, it's being NICE. My mother the psychotherapist would call it co-dependent. I still call it being nice.

Interestingly,  when males fight or bully others it is more physical and direct. Female bullying is often referred to as "relational" bullying, and we fight on a much more emotional plane. Sociologically, women make "everything" a  relationship (I know, major generalization).

I've succeeded throughout my career because I am great at building relationships, and caring about my customers. Within those relationships I am appreciative and of course polite, but I am also direct and clearly define my expectations. That is why I succeed. It's how I am able to increase sales, close long-standing business in the pipeline and affect customer (donor) loyalty. I make the ask - I don't apologize for it at all.

One afternoon with my colleagues waiting to go to lunch and literally lined up at my cubicle, I asked my process champion at UPS what it would take to get them a contact. Nothing more, nothing less. She right then said she would purchase the product at XXX price, and I should get her a contract that day. My boss' eyes just about popped out of his head when he heard me openly ask for the sale (we were not usually that direct), but of course he was terribly pleased with the result. And of course, I thanked her at the end of the call!

Clearly, there is a place for direct communication. Things get done when you say what you need to say. But there's no excuse for not thanking someone for their contribution or assistance. And  there's no need to demand things rudely when a simple "please" will go so far in their mind.

And on that note, thank you for reading, and oh, please help me find a job!

Help Me Hate Winter A Little Less

I need your help.  Well, I don’t really need your help (check back here often, as someday I personally will need your help, I know), but there are a lot of people around the Denver metro area who need your help!

I’ve been a bit inspired by Dave Price, the weather guy on the CBS Early Show. Yes, of course, he’s an adorable member of the Tribe, on whom I have a gigantic TV anchor crush, but that’s totally beside the point.  Right now he’s doing his second annual “No Way Home” segment for the show, where he has to get from the West Coast (in this case, Anchorage, AK) back to the GM Building in New York City in a week.

There are two basic rules to his trip: he can’t fly more than 1,000 miles, and he can’t just be given stuff – he has to earn it. To say Dave’s had a rough go of it would be an understatement and a cliché.  It’s been, an “adventure,” and I’ve been geekily following him on twitter, and the CBS Early Show site, and while funny, you do kinda feel bad for the guy.

Twice he has lost his coat, and he’s not even east of the Rockies yet. And it’s cold out there. But let’s be honest – he’s walking around with a camera crew, and probably is afforded a lot more liberties than say a homeless family or vet, right?

Some of you know that I hate winter. OK – hate is a strong word, so I strongly dislike winter. A lot. I complain about walking the dogs in the morning, or having to walk from the gym to the car. But I have a place to work, a place to sleep, and I can always stop for an overpriced specialty coffee if I am really cranky. So many people here in the metro area don’t. They must really hate winter. And this is where you come in.

I am collecting new and gently used coats for folks in the Denver Metro Area.  I have a closet full of coats that I really don’t wear that often, ok AT ALL, and that’s just a starting point.  If you are more organized than I am, and you’ve already cleaned your closet, then visit your local charity thrift/second hand shop and help two groups at once!  

If you’d like to help, please send me an e-mail at ADDcrafter@gmail.com, or find me on twitter.  I’ll even come pick them up from you, or meet you half-way if you live in south nowhere or something like that (I don’t really “do” south of Belleview, as again, some of you know).

I don’t have a firm goal yet, but I am thinking 100 coats would be a good starting point, and pretty darn easy to hit. In fact, I think it's a totally ninny goal.  I guess as a social media geek (and by no means a self appointed guru), I’d also really love to see this go a little viral, so please tell your friends, family and followers. Perhaps they can do the same thing where they live.

Thanks in advance for your help – let’s make this winter a little warmer for Denver’s less fortunate!